THE TIMBER INDUSTRY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2295, 9 January 1909, Page 5

THE TIMBER INDUSTRY.

MILLS TO BE CLOSED

(Press Association.)

PALMERSTON, Jan. 8

There were sawmilliug representatives present at- the conference held at Palmerston yesterday from Auckland, West - Coast (South Island), Rangitikei, Wairarupa, Taranaki, and Hav-lte’s Bay. The meeting was not open to the press, and lasted six hours. Interviewed at- the close of the proceedings, prominent millers said they would close their mills down indefinitely as tlio result of the meeting, which was the most representative gathering of sawmillers ever held ■liereand probably ever held in Nciv Zealand. There wore fully 100 mills represented, averaging 30 men each. A conference was held to consider the advisability of reopening some of the closed mills, but- as a result of the discussion it- is considered ■biint fully fifty mills will close indefinitely, affecting. at a moderate estimate, lUlly 1000 men. and the output of other mills -will be restricted. The main factors of the decision tire the wholesale importation of Oregon pine and the general stringency of the money market. It- was "suggested that- the Government should fix a dimension tariff as one solution of the difficulty, ami also make the import duty on Oregon pine the same as the export dut-v on white pine and kauri.