H.—24

45

A. BAIN

234. Would the introduction of Oregon here reduce the price of other timbers! — As far as this part is concerned it would not, because we cannot get it delivered here as quick as in the main centres. 235. Do you think it would in other parts? —I think it would, but in the centres where they have the railway only I do not think it would, much. 236. Seeing that the timber-merchants who handle other timbers in this country would be the prinoipal persons to handle Oregon, do you think they would introduce Oregon and bring down the price of other timbers? —That might apply up north, but those handling the timber here are the sawmillers themselves. They are all interested practically in the mills here, and evidently there is a smaller profit in one than in the other, otherwise they would have handled it. 237. Do you not think the other people would handle Oregon?— Yes, some of them would, no doubt. 238. Have you ever known of any Oregon coming out to this country in the log?— Not in the log, but spare in the junk —sawn timber. ' We get it up to Hi and up to 18 by 18. 239. Mr. Ley land.] There is a difference between a hewn log and sawn?— Yes. 240. Mr. M(ini!cr.\ Do you think it would be an advantage to insist on the Oregon being delivered here in the log to give the workmen employment?— Yes, 1 think it would. 241. You complained about rimu timber being delivered on the job green : is it not a fact that the builders prefer that?- -I do not know who does—l do not. 242. I understand there is no ditliculty in driving nails in when it is green?—l have not found that. 243. Have you known any timber-miller in this district making out of timber a million of money?—We have got one here who is reputed to be getting that way. 244. Made out of timber? —Yes, out of timber. 245. Out of the 3s. 9d. per hundred? —He is getting more than that. 24G. How many minimum feet must you have for a profit? —There was one miller who is not here now, but who was selling at this price, and he said to me in Wellington not many months ago that he had cleared over t20,000 out of one mill. 247. Do you know his name? —I know his name, but Ido not think it fair to state it. Mr. Field: If you have got the name of that miller, if he is about, I would like to call him. Hon. the Chairman: He lives in Dunedin. Edmund Richardson Wilson sworn and examined. (No. 7.) 1. lion,, the Chairman.] You were an architect in Invercargill? —Yes. 1 may say that the question of Oregon pine does not affect Invercargill very vitally. The only local use we have for it is for heavy beams, such as joists and suchlike. Beyond that, we use Oregon very little indeed. 2. Will you just state to the Commission generally your impression with regard to the questions we are inquiring into? You do not know anything about the cost of production in the mill? —No. 3. You know more about the builders' part of it?--Yes. 4. Could you tell us anything in that way?— With regard to the increased cost in building 1 think the statement that the increase amounts to something like Is. per hundred feet is not quite o< riect, because, as the last witness pointed out, there is an increase on larger sizes—larger lengths; also there is a very great increase on what the timber used to cost, but of course the increase in the cost of building is not entirely due to the rise in timber. For instance, in brickwork they were sold ten years ago at £1 Bs. per thousand. The same bricks now cost from ,£1 17s. to £2 per thousand. Bricklayer's labour was also xevy much less then. It was Bs. or 9s. a day, whereas now they are getting about 12s. Plasterers are also getting an increased wage, but I think the main cause of the increase on buildings is the timber: that is the largest item. In addition, people now demand a ver\ much better class of building than they had before. If you go back ten years, very few houses of five or six rooms had bathrooms. Even a pantry was more or less of a luxury, whereas the same class of houses have bathroom, pantry, and scullery now, with hot and cold water and a range. Ranges nine or ten years ago were mostly low-pressure, whereas now they are high-pressure. Again, the majority of the washing used to be done out of doors. Now people have a wash-house as part of the building, and the coalhousc is also part of the building. The general finish also, I think, on the whole, is better than it was ten years ago. 5. Could you tell us what the difference in price is between then and now?— Well, I could not tell you accurately, but I should think that, say, a five-roomed house would now cost from £100 upwards more than ten years ago. G. And a large proportion of that increase is due to the increase on the timber?— Yes, undoubtedly; but it is almost essential that we should have Oregon pine here for heavy joists and work of that nature. It has been stated that we cannot get heavy red-pine timber here dry. I do not know what the stocks are lying at the sidings, but I know that the timber is now grow-in'; , in the bush for actual contracts that may be let. Of course, timber takes a long time to season. If it is not properly seasoned, it means that the upper floors draw away from the walls. It means a considerable amount of trouble and cost. You have your employer complaining about it. By using Oregon we get the stuff on to the building seasoned, so that a good deal of that trouble is obviated. Then, when it comes to getting very heavy stuff for large props, Oregon is the only timber that is fit; but I do not think that Oregon will ever be very greatly used in Invercargill, unless red-pine were greatly increased in cost, because we have got to face the haulage from the Bluff. Only small boats can come to our port; big shipments have to be landed at the Bluff. Then, of course, the Railway Department charge for bogie-trucks for long lengths. I worked out recently what it would cost to put a roof of a 60 ft. span over a certain building, and I came to