THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, 1909. THE MINISTER FOR LABOUR AND OREGON PINE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3088, 9 January 1909, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, 1909. THE MINISTER FOR LABOUR AND OREGON PINE.

The decision of the conference of sawmillers, held at Palmerston North on Thursday last, to close up fifty sawmills, is not pleasant reading. Employment at the present time is by no means so plentiful that the large number of hands that will be discharged can view the future with equanimity. 7.t is considered that at least one thousand men will be affected. The chief reasons, it is said, for closing the mills are the wholesale importations of Oregon pine which have been taking place for some time past, and the stringency of the money market. Not only have the sawmillers had a bad time of it at the hands of their American rivals, but they have been harassed by the banks for money. The financial institutions of the Dominion do not, unfortunately, render that degree of

assistance to business and trading concerns that might be reasonably expected. However, with the growth of trade, as the Dominion continues to develop, financial institutions will, no doubt, be inclined to pursue a somewhat milder policy of conservatism than is now their usual habit. As matters stand at present, sawmillers, along with others, have felt the stringency of the money market, and that strisency certainly was not brought about by the banks. Circumstances quite beyond the control of anyone, or any institution, brought about such a change the financial condition of the Dominion that the banks had "to put the screw on, "and their conduct during the past twelve months has be?n generally regarded with favour. Unquestionably, the chief cause of the sawmillers' trouble has been the low duty now placed on Oregon pine coming into the country. During last general election, when Mr J. Hunter was opposing the present Minister for Labour, he placed the Oregon pine question very clearly before this constituency; indeed, Mr Hunter's predictions are coining true in a remarkable manner. The Minister for Labour, however, did not agree with Mr Hunter's viewy, and regarded an increase in duty on Oregon pine as simply nothing r.iore nor less than a device to stuff with dollars the already overflowing pockets of members of rings and combines. All over the Dominion, where there are sawmills, there is a deprsssed state of affairs, and the position must be faced. The low duty on Oregon pine is another instance of the freetrade fallacy. The Freetrader, in the present circumstances, must either forsake his principles, or calmly watch the sawmilling trade going to the bad—in the interests of the country! It will be interesting to note whether the Minister for Labour will adhere to his expressed views, and very strongly expressed too, .on the question of a proposed increase in duty on Oregon pine, or whether he will be able, from his exalted position, to see that another view of the question ma.y, be best after all.