THE TIMBER COMMISSION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2466, 2 April 1909, Page 5

THE TIMBER COMMISSION.

INVEROARGIL SITTINGS CLOSE. ' [Per Press Association.] INVEROARGIL, April 1. The local sitting of the Timber Commission ended yesterday. Mr. McCreadie, district railway engineer, said that oreosoted New Zealand wood sleepers lasted about 20 years, against six or seven years if uncrepsoted. The price of crcosotcd sleepers here was 3s {d each, of which Is wag for creosoting. The average cost of jarrah sleepers landed here was 3s Od. The life of jarrah was about 40 years. The more hard-wood sleepers used the safer tracks could be- kept. Even on a straight section there was considerable trouble with soft-wood sleepers on account of the “cutting in” and the loosening of the “dogs.” Totara was really the only suitable sleeper timber obable in Southland. Matai was undependable. tpuriri sleepers were quite equal to Australian, and he would be very pleased-to be able ix> get them. A new system of creosoting might result in a considerable saving. His figures did not allow for duty for jarrail, because the Department paid no duty; neither had he allowed for the Government’s lid p.er cent, royalty on New'Zealand wood. 0. A. Piper corrected his statement that only 15,000 ft of Oregon had been carried on the railway from the Bluff for the last two. years. Taking account of prices the correct amount would be be form 100,000 to 150,000 feet every year. , The Commission passed a resolution appreciative of the hospitality accorded the members, and Mr Duncan commended the witnesses for the way the evidence had been given. SITTING AT DUNEDIN. DUNEDIN, April 1. The Timber Commission sat at Dunedin this morning. The first witness w.as T. Scott, of Scott and Wilson, Venetian' blind makers. He said the bulk of the timber he used was imported, none of the New Zealand timber being suitable. He referred to anomalies in the present tariff on imported timber, the chief anomaly being the slight difference between timber imported in bulk and dressed or manufactured. timber. He said that some years ago slabs had been used by him, and were cut and dressed in the Dominion, but, now, owing to the anomalous duty, they were imported from Sydney ready dressed, and New Zealand' plants for preparing timber were shut down. By importing this timber ready dressed, manufacturers have saved one-third in the freight and onethird in the duty, for one-third of the timber went into sawdust in the process of manufacture. Witness considered that the timber was now 25 per cent, dearer than it used to be. The cost of labor had not increased more than 10 per cent., and it would be a mistake to place a duty on imported timber. He thought there be an export duty placed on kauri. The extra work that would be given to the building trade if timber was imported free would more than compensate for the work lost by New Zealand sawmills. Witness said undoubtedly there was a ring among kauri timber merchants, as the price was fixed; and was too Mr Crawford, president of the Builders’ and Contractors’ Union of Emplovors, was the next witness. He read a resolution passed by liis association for presentation to the Commissin, expressing the opinion that the importation of foreign timbers would facilitate building operations, and emphasising the necessity for the import duty being removed. Witness said his ‘ principal reason for wishing the duty removed was the difficulty ox obtaining local timber. The Builders Association had no understanding as to prices with the. ■ Sawmillers’ Association. , Alexander McPherson, timber merchant, said then? used to be considerable enquiry from Australia for birch, and his firm shipped . fair quantities there till the Commonwealth imposed a duty of 2s Gd. which shut New Zealand birch out.' He considered something should be done to put kauri and birch on the same footing. He did not think the increase in the cost of timber was caused by a close combine or association. The members of the Sawmillers’ Association were not subjected to any penalties of they sold below certain prices. He thought the percentage of bad debts was 2-J per cent, of the cost of the timber.