OREGON PINE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 241, 5 October 1908, Page 2

OREGON PINE.

ANOTHER ASPECT OF THE QUESTION. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland. Last Night. There has been a great deal of agitation recently for the increase of the import duty on Oregon pine, or Uougias iir, as it is more correctly termed. A gentleman prominently connected with the timber-milling industry in Auckland, speaking on the subject yesterday, said: "The circumstances which gave rise to the present agitation were entirely exceptional, and arose out ot the financial crisis which occurred at the end of last year in America, and also to a rate war which ensued between the. railway companies ami the lumber men. Many American mills were closed on account of the financial crisis, and other, mills closed rather than pay the increased rates of ireight to the East. This caused the lumber men to rely very largely oil the export trade by sea, which was only a small moiety of their general output, lire consequence was that the prices fell very low. The rate war is noiv, practically over, as also is. the financial crisis, but owing to the rJump many loggers ceased operations. While tlio stocks of logs are now very low, the stocks of sawn in the Hast arc also short. There will, therefore, be it!suflieient logs to met tlie big demand which will come from the East, vid price, will probably go up to prohibitive rates so fur as New Zealand is concerned. Fur some time there was a timber famine in Auckland, the supply being unequal to the demand, asd there was always a class of work going on that required a grade of timber perhaps' ' not equal tu the best kauri, but superior) ! to tiie sap timbers of other New Z°a-1 land woods. This shortage of heart

timber could not 'be supplied, and could not now lie supplied by rimu and other millers. Many builders and contractors were greatly inconvenienced owing Vo this shortage. The West Coast millers adverti-cd that they were willing to supply largo quantities per month, but when pi von a chance to supply to the specifications of the imported timber, which was heart, they were unable to do it. 'fhe local millers naturally took advantage of the low rates ruling for Oregon and imported it. The quota' ticms, however, have already hardened

in America, and freight rates have also increased, so that an 'ncrcased import, duty is not required.