THE TIMBER COMMISSION

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2508, 22 May 1909, Page 5

THE TIMBER COMMISSION

SITTING IN AVELLINGTON.

[Per Press Association.]

WELLINGTON, May 21. At a sitting of the Timber Commission to-day, evidence was continued. Andrew Quinlan, sawmiller, of Nireaha said he had been in business since 1873. He did not . know of a, inore widespread depression in the timber business than at present. If it continued the mills would have to close down. He did not believe in export duties on timber. Much of the depression was due to the bursting of the land boom. He could not say if the public had benefited by the importation of Oregon pine. There was some mysterious going on in reference to Oregon timber. Air. Arnold: Do you think there is some understanding between merchants, architects, and engineers with reference to specification of Oregon,? Witness!: I have a very strong suspicion that way. There is mystery at work somewhere —something secret. John Anderson, sawmiller, of Ala.sterton, said Oregon had detrimentally affected the timber industry. He advocated a duty of 5s on Oregon. His null was now closed, 17 men being out of work. The position was serious. If it continued six months the smaller mills must go to the wall. W. H. Bennett, builder and contractor, of AVellington, representing the Executive of the New Zealand Federated Builders’ Association, said that owing to the delay and the diffiunity in obtaining- the native article for roofing and joistmg, it was absolutely necessary that Oregon should he admitted free of duty. Oregon had the advantage over local timber, as it did not take the borer. Kauri had become almost unobtainable in AVellington. A few lengths the other day cost him 3/s (>d per 100 ft, as against 31s Gd in Sydney. Outsiders were getting oiir timber- cheaper than those in the Dominion. An increased export duty should he placed on kauri. The real cause oi the millers’ trouble wasi slackness of trade and tightness in the money market. Importation of Oregon had not affected the building trade very much. Oregon was not suitable for outside building. A 7 erbal threats bad been made by merchants that if builders purchased direct from millers they would lie allowed only 2-1 per cent instead oi 71 per cent. Two persons had had their names removed from the discount list on this account. The cost of building at present was too l high for the working man. AY it ness did not favor the establishment of a State mill- All things being equal, lie favored Xew Zealand timber. Oregon had been stocked here to fill a long iclt want. Timber supplies, so far as prices were concerned, ■wore not) on «i RJitisffl.ctoiy basis. The Government should take more vigorous steps in the direction oi afforestation. AA 7 . L. Thompson, representing the AVellington Builders’ and Contractors’ Association, said that the slackness jn the milling trade was not due to the importation of Oregon pine., hut to the high htnd values and high interest charges which had stopped speculation. His association wanted the duty on Oregon abolished.