H.—so

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pelling annual output four millions, and having only seaborne outlet, Australian trade absolutely necessary. Joseph Butler, Managing Director, White-pine Company.

14, Brandon Street, Wellington, 22nd October, 1901. Sir, — Export of White-pine. Some months ago, in an interview with the Hon. the Minister of Lands, I suggested that, in the interests of the dairy trade, it would be advisable to impose an export duty, on white-pine timber, more especially as at that time sawmillers were selling this timber for export at a lower rate than was being charged to New Zealand consumers. The supply of available white-pine is becoming scarcer yearly, and since making the suggestion the price of butter-boxes has advanced Id. per box, except in cases, as in some parts of Taranaki, where unexpired contracts are in force. From present indications, each year will further rise in price; and, in face of this prospect, it is not good business to allow the export of this timber to continue unchecked, thus enabling other countries to benefit at the expense of the New Zealand dairy-farmer. I notice that the sawmillers, or a section of them, are in favour of an export duty being imposed on white-pine balks. This association strongly urges upon your Government the desirability of imposing an export duty on all white-pine timber, and also of some steps being taken to preserve the white-pine bush, and prevent the wholesale destruction of this timber which is now taking place. Respectfully begging your favourable consideration to this matter, I am, &c, C. K. Beattie, Secretary. National Dairy Association of New Zealand (Limited). Rt. Hon. the Premier, Wellington

Palmerston Cooperage and Butter-box Factory, Sir, — Main Street, Palmerston North, 15th October, 1901. As a user of white-pine timber, I would point out that New Zealand's needs are increasing by millions of feet each year for butter-boxes only. If you allow 8 ft. for each butter-box it will show the actual feet used for each year's butter export, and for tallow-casks 50 ft. each. Now, instead of encouraging the export of timber (white-pine), put an export duty on it, and so conserve the timber for future generations, as it is a certainty that it cannot be replaced. Even at the present time good white-pine for butter-boxes is not plentiful, and sawmillers -in the past have exported white-pine at a loss very often. I am, &c, Rt. Hon. R. J. Seddon, Wellington. William Cook.

Palmerston Cooperage and Butter-box Factory, Sir,— Main Street, Palmerston North, 23rd October, 1901. I strongly advocate a heavy export duty on white-pine suitable for butter-boxes. I believe that in twenty years' time white-pine for boxes will be almost unprocurable. Sawmillers have a good market for all they can supply, at good prices, and by conserving the timber Government will save the colony hundreds of thousands of pounds and give employment to hundreds of men ; and it is certain the timber can never be replaced. By placing a heavy export duty you will benefit both the sawmilling and also the working-men of this Island. I am, &c, Rt. Hon. R. J. Seddon, Wellington. William Cook.

Rt. Hon. R. J. Seddon, Wellington. Auckland, 23rd October, 1901. Regret unable to attend Timber Conference to-morrow. Being largest exporter of New Zealand white-pine, and thoroughly understanding its manipulation from first to last, do beg to state emphatically that it is inimical to the interests of this particular business, and seriously affecting labour, to allow deals, flitches, logs to be exported free while Australia imposes duty on small marketable sizes. I will be at Wellington Friday. Robt. P. Gibbons. »

Sir,— Wellington, 25th October, 1901. Knowing that the Government is seriously and actively considering the bearing of the Australian tariff on the New Zealand export, I venture to lay before you my views regarding whitepine, in which I am largely interested. To cut and place my timber on the market I pay yearly in labour about £30,000. Much of this labour will be diverted to Australia unless something can be done to prevent the timber being sent away from the colony uncut, or, what is nearly as bad, cut into large sizes. The Commonwealth tariff is 2s. 6d. on sizes under 7£in., and Is. 6d. from in. to 12 in. by 6in., logs being free. I would suggest that our case would be met by imposing an export duty on all sizes of logs, flitches, and deals that would equalise the cost of those sizes when delivered in Australia. It is held by some, and with a fair show of reason, that export duty handicaps us against foreign competition, but this cannot apply to white-pine, because it has no foreign competition. Much, too, can be said against cutting white-pine into flitches, and every practical miller knows that about 20 per cent, more of off-cuts and unmarketable timber must of necessity