THE TIMBER COMMISSIONS

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2501, 14 May 1909, Page 5

THE TIMBER COMMISSIONS

SITTINGS AT AUCKLAND

[Per Press Association.]

AUCKLAND, May 13. { The Timber Commission concluded the taking of evidence in Auckland to<lay. ' „ T. H. White, mill manager for the Kauri Timber Company, said it was quite untrue that the high price of kauri meant large profits for the miller. The high prices were due to the heavy charges on raw material. There was no ring iii the industry. As a kauri milled- he was not particularly interested in the Oregon question, but looking at the situation from the workers’ point of view, he was decidedly of Opinion that the import tax should be increased. It stood to reason, that every million feet of foreign timber which came in displaced an equal quantity of local timber, and kept men out of employment. Riniu was a far better timber than Oregon pine. It would not be practical to conserve the kauri bush. Ho was entirely opposed to an export tax on kauri, which could not possibly benefit anybody. He was strongly of opinion that re-afforcstation should bo pushed on vigorously. T Mahoney, architect, said that between 1901 and >1907 the price of timber had gone up 30 per cent to do per cent., and that of joinery 20 per cent to 40 percent. A cottage which ho built in 1903 cost £260. He wished to build a -similar' cottage recently, and the lowest tender ho com d- get was X 338, an increase of £7B. He consulored Oregon pine a thoroughly satisfactory timber for building purposes. He knew of houses built of Oregon pine forty or fifty years ago which were as ‘ T ood now as ever they were. , E/Bartley, architect, gave evidence to the effect that it was very desirable to import Oregon. Local timber was not ptop.erly seasoned. -r .K-S — .-'U “ :