The Timber Trade.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7758, 9 March 1905, Page 2

The Timber Trade.

MEETING OF HAWlll \NU TIHMKIt MERCHANTS. (DINXKU 'IXJ VISITING ])KLI> OATHS. The quarterly meeting of delogntes to the ilawke's Hay. Kangiteka. Turanuki, West Coast'mid Wirtrarapn Sawinillers' Associations, in conjunction with representatives of the Wellington mnl Wangunui Timber Merahnnts' Associations was, at tho invitation of the local Association, held in N,-»- I'lyinouUi for' tho first time on Wednesday, the meetings have on all previous occasions been held at Pnlmerston North, 'l'hc conference was held al the Town Hall, the meeting being n_verv representative one of about delegates. Various tin tiers per(tainiirg to tl(e trade were discussed i with a vi«w to mutual co-ojjerutlon i ">r the benefit of those engageJ in .the Industry and the general |>ul>- , 1 i'■ No alteration in prices was effected.

Ihe visitors were heartily welcomed, and ill the evening wvre entertained at dinner at the Troeadero in F.gmont Strwt. There was a large galhering, and the proceedings W'ere of a pleasing convive] charjacter, the toasts being interspersed with a musical programme. The excellent dinner provided by the host and hostess (Mr and Mrs Male) contributed not a little to the stic- | cess of the evening. Mr l' # llrowii. Chairman of the local Association, presided. After the loyal toast, the Chairman proposed the toast of "Parlialiumeiit." coupled with the names of Messrs K. SI. Smith, M.11.U. (Taranaki) ami W. Jennings, 51.11.1t. <Eginoiit). Mr Smith, in the course of his reply, differed with the Chairman as to the lines on which the Pa ilia mem of this colony was travelling. "Why, | lie said, "we are SWI years ahead of jtho old country." (Laughter and n|>plause). He was proud of this coljony's legislation when he read of |delegates lieing sent across from other countries tot study the laws of this democratic and prosperous land. Dealing with the political xiJtuntion, he said the colony could not afford to let the Opposition come into power. The Government's I record was one of progress, and it | was in the interests of all to see that their good work was continued. I Whether he was in Parliament or not lie would always do his best to | advance the interests of the district. He argued ihae tho colony's potentialities should l>e encouraged in every way to make it self-containod. He dwelt enthusiastically on the possibilities of the Mokau coal and lime, and the ironsnnd deposits and > petroleum boring. In conclusion lie remarked that he would shortly meet his opponents, and when he did they " would hear from him." (Laughter and applause.) Mr Jennings, in replying, threw out the suggestion that such representative bodies should give the Government the benefit of their ideas ifor the proper conservation of the remaining forests in New Zealand. (Hear, hear.) Sir Julius Vogvl, with his Semetic keenness of percejition, had as far back as 1870 pointed out what the prol«ii<ljjle effect would be of the indiscriminate denujalion of tile forests. The Premier, in a recent speecili at Dargaville, had estimated the life of the kauri at eight years, lie (the speaker) was inclined to doubt this, as he had an inl imate knowledgo of the whole back country, and his opinion was that in about fifteen years the kauri would be cut out. It was essential that proper steps should bu taken to conserve the forests, and in this connection ho expressed pleasure that the experiment of planting timber on Ihe Taupo Plains, which had one time been thought utterly useless, had turned out so pronuisingly. Mr G. Symo ((Vice-chairman) proposed the toast of the " Turunuki Master Builders' Association." lie pointed out the value ol combination for both sides, and suggested to the visiting sawmillcrs thut they should endeavour to get the builders in their respective districts to form associations, because thoi> they could unitedly arrive at satisfactory settlements on all questions affecting the trade. Mr X. J. King replied, acknowledging the stsaightforward manner in which his association had been met by the Sawmillcrs' Association. Mr A. A. Plket'l spoke, giving his views on some points for the betterment of the trade. He proposed the toast of tho "Taranaki Sawmillcrs' Association." Mr Airier responded in a humorous vein. In somo cases, he did not say locally, builders seemed to think the advertisement the sawmiller got by showing oft' the One class of timber lio could produce was sufficient remuneration. ((Laughter.) Mr Brown (Chairman) submitted the toast of "Tho Ytotting Sawmillers ajid 'lumber Merchants," extending to them a hearty welcome on the occasion of their first meeting «t New Plymouth. Mr Held, on behalf of the Wellington merchants, responded. It cheered him to see such a gathering of .those who had a community of in-! terests. lie contrasted that with 1

the state of things a few years ago when the trade was at "sixes and sevens." lie denied that the price of timber was 100 high, holding that tho lot of the sawmiller and the timber meschunt was not altogether the unviable one often pictured. He was sorry that the unity they saw here did not extend to the rest of the colony. Ho warmly acknowledged the hospitality shown 10 tho delegates. Mr Bartholomew also responded. For his part he had not observed any of tho distrust as mentioned by Mr Heid ; on the contrary lie thought the conference lntil been very satisfactory. Mr F. M. Sptirdlc (Wnnganui) proposed "The Industrial and Commercial Prosperity of New Zealand" in very optimistic terms. The coal I seams at Mokau should bo developed as far as lay in their power, and this also applied to the lime and ironsand deposits and the petroleum urea. It was the duty of the Government to give adequate port facilities lo Mokau, w hen the development warranted it. In reference to th<! breakwater, he was surprised to find the berthage accommodation as good as it was. He thought from 'the press that it was being Kilted up, but it appeared to be in workable condition, thanks to tho energy of the Harbour Hoard. Ueforc concluding tho speaker dwelt on the debt of gratitude the present gienerat'ion owed to the old settlers and pioneers of tho town and district, | who had heroically faced danger and difficulty in owning up tho province, (Applauso.)

! Mr Fraser (New Plymouth) responded. There were those, he said, who growled that tho sawmills were destroying the forests, but on the other hand he would point out that < they were making un asset of what would otherwise be a wuste product. Further, when timber was cleared oil the land would be more valuable than it was now. Another delegate propos d the "Commercial and Industrial l"ros|>erity of X«w Zealand." The Mayor (Mr 11. Cock), in acknowledging the toast said that he was surprised at the magnitude of the gathering. lie was pleased to hear Mr Spurdle's remarks on the old settlers-, which varied his mind back to the days when Taranuki was confined to a small military settlement. Everything was flourishing, though since Christmas the dairying had had a set-back on account of the dry weather. He looked forward to the lime when the butter and other produce for export could l,e shipjted direct here, without thousands of pounds being siKMit as at present on trans-shipping and re-handling-goods. (Applause.) He was convinced that np [tortkm of Xew Zenland had a better future than Tarnnaki, for it was not yet half developed. The Chairman proposed the toast of "l.ocal .Bodies." Mr H. Okay, in the course of Iris acknowledgement, expressed the opinion that the local bodies did not get the measure of assistance from the Government that they deserved, lieeause the local bodies would not receive u Loeul CJovernment lljll in the direction of letting even-body in the district "have a say," instead of only ratepayers, they could not get the bill through. Mr Connett, Chairman of the Hntl>our Hoard, also replied. He stated that at present the revenue of the Hoard showed a surplus of £SOOO a year over expenses. Thc,v could not make the farmers and others interested see that it was better policv to get a loan of £140,000 to complete* the work, so they could have a proper harbour for the province. Tho company with which he had lieon connected had been shipping butter at the rnlo of HKH) boxes a day, no that it would lio a very great Advantage In Importing buck large

, quantities of prod oat i! Uwy couM bhlp dlrjct alongside the wharf, .. | The toasts of "Tho LmHch," "The I'rcs*," and "Th* concluded the proceeding*, ihe company dl#pcrKfnjr on Hinging "AuM Lang Syne" and tlte National Anthem, i un " fffvlng dicer* for tho Tarnnnkl delegate*. A number of tonn nnd rocitaf lons by vlwitor* and others were much enjoyed.