The Timber Industry.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 235, 8 October 1904, Page 4

The Timber Industry.

COMPETITION FROM OREGON MILLS. It was stated during the interview which the representatives of the West Coast Timber Association had with the Premier at Groymouth on Saturday night that the competition of Oregon timber isl becoming ft serious matter. Ono boat recently brought to Lyttelton some 780,000 feet, and it was carried from Ameryea for less than the West Coast millers had to Pay to havo it carried from Orcym«uth'. The deputation suggested that an importation duty should be put on timber, It stated that there waa no chance of the local price being increased, and the Chairman, Mr. William Morris, said that he was personally in favour of reducing the price. He thought that the eight shillings charged might be lowered to seven shillings. Mr. Morris also said that lie was afraid that the Premier's Trade Monopolies Mill would interfere somewhat with the Association. The body was really serving a useful purpose, since without it two-thirds of the mills' on the Coast could not continue working. The Premier said that the importation of Oregon Umber was a very large matter, and a general public demand would be needed before a duty would likely to be imposed. What gurantee would the colony have that the local price would not be increased if there was an import duty '? Any legislation in the matter would have to stipulate that tin? duty would be removed if the price went above a certain maximum rate. The Association was a body similar in constitution to the Millers' Trust. It. fixed the price of timber, and so of buildings) and of homes. He wanted capital to get a fair return, tout tire Association had tixed its prices so as to help the man who deliberately oi>ened a sawmill under disadvantages. Tlie Coast millers had sent away twenty-four million feet of timber during Hie previous year, and had charged eight slhillinigs when the Chairman said that seven shillings would do. That meant that the people had paid £12,000 more than was' necessary. He strongly advised the sawmilters not to be in such a hurry to cut the timber. It was a most valuable asset, and in years to come timber would be wanted badly in the colony.