SLUMP IN TIMBER

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 933, 28 March 1930, Page 10

SLUMP IN TIMBER

INVESTIGATION DEMANDED WORKERS VIEW POSITION From Our Own Correspondent TAUMARUNUI, Thursday. The slump in the timber industry of the Dominion is causing the gravest concern to both employers and employees in the King Country, where the production of timber is one of the main industries. A meeting of workers at Manunui demanded an “immediate and thorough investigation into the cause of the timber trade depression.” The meeting, which was largely attended, was held under the auspices of the Timber Trade and Workers’ Protection League, and the various aspects of the position were discussed fully. The general opinion was that the immediate future seemed to be fraugh with grave possibilities, as there were no indications that an early improvement could be looked for. In fact, tho reverse seemed to be the case. At some mills the men had been working only from two to four days a lweek, and it was reported that in some instances there had not been any payouts for weeks. The meeting passed the following resolution: “That this meeting, in view of tho serious economic position of the sawmilling industry, affecting the employment of 7,305 workers and their dependents, demands an immediate and thorough investigation into the cause of the timber trade depression. Wo respectfully submit the question of high railway freights, high royalties. and high bank rates for financial consideration, and also the uneconomic system used in dividing timber areas for milling purposes, which entails the maximum of capital for a minimum return. NY© ask for the prohibition of timber dealers importing soft wood into New Zealand, while there are ample supplies of local timber available for all ordinary building and industrial uses. Even just recently, the dais to receive the new GovernorGeneral was erected in imported timbers. NY© urge that immediate effect be given to this resolution.” AUSTRALIAN PRODUCE, SYDNEY, Thursday. The following are today’s quotations on the Sydney produce market : Wheat.—ln bulk, 4s 7id; bagged, 4s 8 Id. Flour. — £ 11. Pollard. — £7 15 s. Bran.— £7 10 s. Potatoes. —Tasmanian, £7 30s to £10: Victorian. £B. Onions. —Victorian Globe and Brown Spanish, C 6. Oats. —White, 4s 9d; Algerian, 4s 3d. Maize. —6s 3d_. Prices at Adelaide are: Wheat. —4s Id to 4s 2d. Flour. — £lO 15s. Bran.— £ 0 3 ss. Pollard. — £7 17s 6d. Oats. —Algerian, 2s Sd to 2s lOd.