TIMBER INDUSTRY

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10310, 20 January 1927, Page 5

TIMBER INDUSTRY

L ABO RITES WAIT ON MINISTERS INVESTIGATION URGED INTO COSTS AND PRICES ROYAL COMMISSION ASKED WELLINGTON, Jan. 19. A deputation from the Alliance ol Labor, the New Zealand Trades and Labor Councils’ federation and the New Zealand Labor Party approached the Minister of Customs (the Hon Downie Stewart), the Minister of Industries and Commerce (the Hon. A. D. McLeod), and the Minister ol Forestry (tlie ±1 on.' O. J. Hawken) this afternoon and urged the Government to set up immediately a Royal Commission to inquire into . the position and. working of the timber industry of the Dominion. The Minister of Labor and the Minister of Internal Affairs were also present. It was suggested that the personnel of the Commission should include representatives of timber workers, sawmillers, building trades, farmers, and industrial organisations. Lengthy draft proposals in connection with the scope of the inquiry were presented, asking for information in much detail concerning the organisation of the industry in New Zealand, the .capital invested, tlie total wages paid, the number of workers operating, the profits and dividends of the companies, the stocks of timber in the mills and in the yards, the detailed cost of producton of imported timber, the actual landed cost, selling prices, etc. It was submitted that the present menace to the industry might be largely due to uneconomical and inefficient lhethods, as the enormous proportion of waste between the bush and the consumer was admitted on all sides. The deputation asked for facts to be elicited so as to enable the waste to be eliminated, and reorganisation effected. Replying to the deputation Mr Stewart said tlie Government lealised the great importance of the problem affecting the industry and for some time past the Government had been collecting'information on practically all questions involved in the representations made by the deputation. He said he had foreseen when it was agreed that the tariff should be revised, tiia l . one of the biggest questions that would loom un was in connection with the timber industry. He had conferred with the Minister of Industries and Commerce and tlie Minister in Charge of the Forestry Department, and they had agreed' that the question was sucli a large one that special investigations should be made immediately without waiting for the actual sittings of the Tariff Commission. Tlie officers of those Departments, therefore liad been working for some months past gathering all information possible, which primarily would be required in considering the tariff. He could see no reason why that information should not be used for the purpose of the special report on the broader aspects of the subjects apart from tariff matters. Tlie personnel of the Commission as proposed by the deputation did not strike him as comprehensive. There were other sections of the community which might also claim representation, importers for instance. The Minister said be had given much thought to the form the Tariff Commission should take, and had realised that from certain points of view there were advantages in baring a sectional commission. He had come to think, however, that more satisfactory results could be achieved by a commission of departmental experts than a commission such as was suggested. The experience of commissions in the past seemed to show that where men of obvious interests were thrown together a fight developed between them, each arguing his own standpoint. The Minister in Charge of Industries and Commerce said he thought the commission would serve a very useful purpose, hut not if constituted as _ suggested. An economic commission was required and evidence could be obtained from all sections affected. He considered a commission of three experts would be the best course to adont. Mr Hawken pointed out that in America the services of experts were solicited. They went into _ the economic aspect, and on their reports decisions were made. A layman was not capable of doing the work of an expert. Moreover, to get at the real facts access must he had to confidential information. Mr Stewart said he would consider the deputation’s suggestion with liis colleagues.—P.A. CLOSING! DOWN OF STATE SAWMILLS

LABOR PROTEST' TO MINISTER SERIOUS UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEM AUCKLAND Jan. 19. The following protest against the closing down of the State sawmills at Mamaku has been sent to the Minister by the Auckland La-fctor members of Parliament: ‘ln view of the serious unemployment problems already existing, and the fact that the State mills must have a steady effect on timber prices as well as doing its even share towards supplying the market, which is now taking some of its supplies from American sources, we desire to record our protest against handing over the Neiy Zealand market " to timber countries overseas, while our own men are seeking employment. A conservative estimate of unemployed in Auckland at present is about 1000 and we trust the Government will move in this matter immediately”.— P.A.