The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1919. MORE TIMBER CANARDS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3319, 24 October 1919, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1919. MORE TIMBER CANARDS.

With which its incorporated “The Taihapev Post. and Waimarino , News-” -

The great. city bf gum, gold, and timber has ever been somewhat disposed to presume‘iTizft it is the hub of ‘the universe, or, at least, the fifth wheel of the Dominion coach. If anything -a trifle out ‘of the ordinary is noticed in connection’ with either gum, gold, or wood, the conclusion is come to that the whole world must be affectled, and Press Association machinery is promptly set in motion to: distribute the news. which eventually ‘turns out to be nothing more thérfa little “backyard” aliJa.ir. , If whetn there is a shortage of either of the Northern b City’s chief products, Auckland would state that it was a local shortage. alarm would not be caused in any ‘other quarter, ‘but when it is claimed that "there is ‘a general shortage, and millers are turning out far less timber than hitherto, quite a. scare is caused in the jbuilding and cabiiictmaking ‘trades. Poor labour is the sinner all the time; i Huge fortunes are being made because men will not work. Labour is not offering for one occupation and another, but be it noted that -huge profits are, ibeing made just 'the- same. One is; i almost compelled to wonder these huge 1 t profits are made, seeing that men e.n.n- I not be ‘induced to work. From the [nature "of the wail ab-o-u't shortage of , dry‘timber in the north. and from ex- ‘ peiience of similar complaints in the’ past, we are of opinion it is the usual precedent furnished for putitng up the‘ cost of building. The Government, the] Railway Dcpa'rtnlent, and some Municipalities have decided to build workers’ homes, and a chance like that de- } cision oifers could not be missed. Some - people get hold of an innocent pressman H who is ready tolimbibe anything hav,ing a bearing upon trade, and theyl ifill him up with a “cock and ’bull” istory which is merely ‘thesnroke part i of a caniouflaged attack .011 the pockets iof the community. If the smoke ibnsiness doesn’t miscarry, the attack‘ 5 follows, "but if it does people see right} through ‘the ‘trick, and it is postponed. The Railway and Sawmillers are remonstrated with for not keeping up to the mark, while Labour is fairly flayed because trees are not fallen. Of course, the chairman of the Rangitikei Sawmillers” Assoeiatibn could not Jet such a mass of telegra- ‘ plied inaccuracies pass, he show*-- I ed conclusively that. the ‘ Auckland‘ story was. little else-' than moonshine, and that whatever other purpose it might have, it was not ‘to disseminate truth about either Millers, Railway, or -Labour. After‘ railways resumed nor-E mal running sat-vmillers put out more! timber, the Railway Department carried

more, and, presumably, labour felled more ‘trees. The Chairman of the Saw‘‘millers goes straiglit to the "phint and: gives exact figures, which show that! the output after the railway cut has: been ge*ttilig' on for twice the volumel it was in the similar period of flleul previous year, and he" m—ad'e it clear] that no building timber had been ex-I ported from any of the associated mills. We refer to inaccuracies of the kind because they teud’to inflame 1-abzour ‘in~ to -the most bitter resentment. It is :1 better feeling that must be cultivated if this fortunate little country is to! tide over the coming ten years without. feeling serioiusly the alarming eonSo<lll9HCos of the war, as seen else-I where.) , t