THE TIMBER COMMISSION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2499, 12 May 1909, Page 5

THE TIMBER COMMISSION.

C SITTINGS AT AUCKLAND.

[Per Press Association.]

AUCKLAND, May 11. At the sitting of the Timber Commission to-day, G. V. Roberto, an Architect, with experience in California and New Zealand, said he bad used Oregon pine continuously, and was astonished at its durability. It was- tin? best timber in tile world frir bearing purposes. The best Oregon did not come here, but there was a very good Duality on this .market.

Henry Voider, managing director of Ellis and Burnand, Ltd., said his firm cut about I,soo,oooft'per month, and employed between . 800 , and 400 men. Although the cost of living and provisions had gone‘up of late years, tho cost of felling, that is from the log to the track, had not gone up in the same proportion, owing to- improved methods of haulage by steam instead 1 of by bullocks. Steam haulage had made many Darts of the bush accessible which were not previously so. For every 100 ft of timber produced, his firm paid 5s 6d in wages. Consequently for every 100 ft imported, that sum in wages was lost to the workers here. Ho thought an increased duty should be -daced on long lengths of Oregon as well as on short lengths. They gave 17-1 per cent discount to the builder. That was the amount fixed by the South Auckland Sawmillers’ Association. He admitted that a number of small millers in the Waikato and in the King Country were in difficulties before the importation of Oregon pine commenced. Mr. Ley land: So Oregon pine is not responsible for the difficulties? „ Witness: Not entirely. Nevertheless it has had a bad effect upon the industrc. G. 11. None, railway storekeeper at Newmarket, said he had great difficulty in obtaining supplies of heart of rimu and kauri. He had •placed orders three years ago which had not been executed yet. He admitted _ that the Government were very exacting in regard to quality. They had used a little Oregon, bub the policy was to support local industry. They used about 100,000 feet a month. 'About eighteen months ago they had cancelled unfulfilled orders for 1.100.000 feet of kauri. Since the importation of Oregon pine, the supplies of kauri required by the Government had been coming forward more freely. He favored an export duty on kauri.