The Daily News. TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 1921. IMPORTED TIMBER.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 April 1921, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 1921. IMPORTED TIMBER.

According to a recent Press message from Wellington the question of American timber merchants dumping quantities of second grade Oregon on the New Zealand market, at extremely low prices, has in some way been brought before Sir Francis Bell, and that he bad stated it was a matter fpr very grave consideration whether a duty should be placed on imported timber, though he intimated that no definite representations had been made to the Government

on the subject. The vague terms in which the message was couched may give rise to the impression that it was engineered by one or more sawmillers, and the fact that no definite representations on the matter have reached the Government, would seem to justify that view. The message does not disclose by whom the matter was referred to the Minister, so that it is deprived of all semblance of authority and importance. Without doubt the sawmillers of the Dominion have been reaping a fine harvest owing to the great demand for their output, and they 'have not only raised the prices enormously, but have doled out the timber in a way that has caused vexatious and costly delay. The sawmilling industry is practically in the hands of a powerful combine, and it is only natural there should be chagrin at competition by American millers. If the truth of the matter were known it is possible that the reason for large arrival* of UW jhe gmin*

ion is due to there being plenty of vessels now available for its transport, and at much lower freights than have prevailed for some years past. In view of the growing shortage of New Zealand timber, its increasing distance back from the railways and ports, as well as to the urgent demand for building material, Oregon timber should be welcomed, even if of second grade, and more particularly when the price is low, as the lessening of the cost of building is of extreme importance. The imposition of an import duty would be quite unjustified under the circumstances. Rather should the trade be encouraged to the utmost. The interests of the country require that both cement and timber should be admitted free of duty, and as a sound economic proposition this policy should be adopted, regardless of those who are at present monopolising these two industries.