113

H.—24.

H. V. HADDOCK.]

48. And does that also apply to the Sawmillers' Association? —Yes. 4!). Mr. Field.] You say that the importation of Oregon pine even in great quantities would not affect your mill at. alii —Yes. 50. Are you prepared to say how it would affect the mills in other parts of the country?—l could not say. I should think that in regard to Oregon imported in large quantities in Auckland, and Wellington, they are in a position to sell as cheaply as red-pine, and cheaper. 51. That being so and there is a large increase in the quantity, and the price does not increase materially, will not that affect our industry-—Naturally it would. 52. Are you aware that it is used in the North Island for other purposes besides, such as flooring? —Yes, I heard that. 53. The present duty is 2s. per hundred feet, and it would naturally follow that it would affect the industry if the duty were taken off? —Yes. 54. Do you think any good would be done by increasing the duty on the smaller sizes so thai il would make more work for those employed in the work here?— Supposing j-ou put an increased duty on your small sizes and reduced the duty on the larger sizes, no timber-merchant would bring the small sizes here but would bring it all in the large size, and it would be cheaper for them to resaw it than to pay the duty. 55. Do you mean they would import it in the larger sizes with a duty larger than the one at present ?—Yes. 50. Have you had any complaints from the builders that the timber-merchants are charging too much for the timber? —No, never. Of course, we always recognise that we are a growling lot, as a rule. You will find the timber has not increased in price so very much in tin; last ten years. If you go by the price-list you will see that in 1900 the price of red-pine up to 8 in. wide or 8 in. thick was 10s., with a trade discount of 5 per cent., and now our list is 13s, 6d., less 10 and 2i per cent., so that the increase is not very great. In fact, we are selling it much cheaper than that now from our yards. 57. Can you supply those prices from the price-list?— Yes, I have it here. [Produced.] Timber has fluctuated many times. I can take my memory back thirty years nearly, when I was connected with a mill down in Southland, and we were then getting from 7s. 6d. to Bs. per hundred feet at the mill, and the cost of getting this timber was a great deal less than it is to-day. [Pricelist produced for 1900.] Of course, it does not show on the list that there was a trade discount of 5 per cent, on that as against 10 per ceift. now; but, further than that, our price-list here shows 1-' is. (id., and we have been placed in such a position by the Southland sawmillers coming into Dunedin and supplying timber direct to the contractors. We reallj- had to reduce our price to practically about 11s. sd. 58. At present?— Yes. 59. The price-list I have here quotes it at 13s. 6d., less a trade discount of 10 per cent, and "2f per cent, for cash?— Yes, that is so. I have all the expenses. We do not want the Southland mills to come here and supply direct to the contractors. 60. Do you know anything of the cost of milling timber?— No. 61. Do you know anything of the position of milling about twenty years ago?—lt is about twenty years since I came here from Invercargill. 62. Do you remember a time when prices were very low and when millers were selling as low as 3s. 9d. and 45.? That is in Southland? —No, it was never done at any time. I notice that it was stated that 3s. 9d. had been charged for timber at a certain time. I happened to be in Invercargill at that time. In fact, I think I drew out the agreement for the purchase of that timber, and the contract that was made was with William Dawson, miller, of One-tree Point. We bought the output at 3s. 9d., but it was not retailed at 3s. 9d. We bought it for resale. 63. Wo had a witness in Invercargill, Mr. Bain, who said that he had bought timber thirty years ago in Invercargill at -is. 9d. ?■—There is no truth in that. 64. If you saw a stamped receipt for it?—l would think it was second-class stuff and useless. 65. Mr. Field.] You know Mr. Massey, of course. He gave it in evidence that timber came down as low at ss. 6d. ?—That was about the price then. 66. He said it came down to even 3s. 9d. and 4s. for a time?—l do not know anything about that time. '67. Mr. Massey would be likely to know? —Yes. 68. Respecting the railway freights on timber, do you consider that they are reasonable?— Yes, I consider them reasonable. 09. You are aware that it costs as much to rail timber from Riverton to Dunedin as to bring it from the Baltic to Dunedin?—That is so. You might say the same about AVellington, which is the same as the freight from Melbourne to Dunedin. 70. Have you had occasion to compare and consider the price charged on timber by the Railway authorities with that charged generally on goods?— No. 71. I mean, are you able to say that timber is bearing more than its fair share as alleged?— No, I cannot say. 72. With regard to building in brick, you say it does not cost so very much more now than building in timber?—So I am told. 73. Do you think that building in brick will always be an effectual check on the price of timber—that is to say, it will always prevent an exorbitant charge being made for timber? Yes, always. 74. I think you said that you were in favour of timber land being conserved: would you make that principle apply in cases where land was owned by private persons or individuals who perhaps might not be able to afford to keep it'—Unless the State bought the land from them I do not see how you could do it.

15—FT. 24.