H.—24.

182

C. TAYLOR.

92. What would you suggest, Mr. Taylor, with regard to timber lands in the hands of private individuals? Whilst I quite agree with you regarding the timber on Crown lands, I would like to have your opinion as to what you would do in the case of privately owned lands I —As to privately owned timber lands we have no recourse. 93. You can see for yourself that you cannot expect private individuals to keej) it? —That is so. 94. You could not do it, and I could not do it?— -I quite agree with you. 95. You said, and quite correctly, that there should be discrimination between small sizes of Oregon and large sizes as far as the duty was concerned; now, do you not think that if the duty were taken off the large sizes the buyers here would import only large sizes and resaw it here ?—1 would remove the duty from Oregon altogether, because it is required and there is room for it. I would not admit any under a certain size. 96. When times are bad in the colony, and only a certain amount of timber is being used, you will readily understand that where Oregon is competing with red-pine the tendency must be towards the closing-up of our own mills; in such a case is it not a fair tiling to protect our own industry?— Yes, that is so, provided you at the same time study the interests of the greater number. 97. Assuming the price charged for our local timber is reasonable? —Yes. 98. Assuming that, do you not think that the industry deserves protection?— Yes, but the public also requires protection. I think you would have all the protection you require if you limit the importation to certain sizes—that is, allow no Oregon to come in under certain sizes, say, 12 by 3 or 12 by 2. 99. You have heard that Oregon is competing with our timber?— The statement has been made, but Ido not know whether there is any truth in it. I know myself there is a slump here at present. The timber is not being used, but that has nothing , to do with the importation of Oregon. 100. You say it is being used very generally for purposes for which our rimu would be used?— Not in comparison to rimu. 101. At any rate, if it were so that our bush was being burned and destroyed through the advance of settlers, if our railway freights were being reduced, our railwaymen thrown out of employment, our mills unused, and our money going out of the country, would not these considerations influence you to protect our industry in hard times ?--Yes. 102. Mr, Let/land.] Do you think, Mr. Taylor, that any large areas of native timbers are being burned owing to the importation of Oregon ?—1 do not know. I say if such is the case it is a mistake and waste. 103. You are aware that in the past very large areas were burned, and at that time no Oregon was imported at all I —Yes. 104. With reference to competition, is it not a fact that Oregon is exceptionally cheap?— Yes. 105. Then, if it were increased in price that competition would practically cease?— That is so. 106. You say that it is lighter, stronger, more reliable, and more reasonably worked?— Yes. 107. You said that the lowest grades only are being imported?— Yes. 108. Then, if the better grades were imported it would be better? —Yes, it would be better in every way, because it would be more expensive, and it would not enter into competition with the red-pine. 109. We inspected a cargo at Dunedin, and we found it was not of a low grade. We found that it was all heart and no sap?—l am only speaking of what I have seen. 110. You do not know how Oregon is graded?— No. 111. I can tell you, as a matter of fact, that two of the lowest grades of Oregon are not sent here at all. They are exported to China. The sap of the timber turns black after it passes through the tropics, so it is kept in a temperate zone and sent to China. You were emphatic in stating that there should be an export duty placed on kauri?— Yes. 112. We have evidence to show that Oregon is largely used in place of kauri? —No. I do not know any purposes for which Oregon would do where kauri is used at the present time. 113. Is it not used now for long lengths, and where they do not want any sap timber they take Oregon ?—I do not know. 114. Do you require Australian hardwoods here? —Yes, they are being used. 115. We know that jarrah is necessary, and the same thing applies to some extent to blue-gum and ironbark? —Yes, it is difficult to get black-pine or totara now. 116. If we impose a duty on kauri and Australia reciprocates, what will be the result?— There is no reason why black-pine and totara should not be reproduced. 117. You would have to live a long while? —Yes. 118. Mr. Clarke.] You stated that you have experienced difficulty in getting supplies; say you wanted to give a good large order, especially with a reasonable amount of long lengths, if there is difficulty now in getting supplies, will that difficulty not increase, seeing that the bush portions of the Dominion are rapidly receding from the towns and cities ?—No, if Oregon is allowed to come in here it will take the place of those special sizes that had to be specially ordered. 119. With reference to the procuring of our local timbers, will it not be much more difficult to get these same timbers years hence, when the supplies are very much farther back, and therefore it will be desirable to replace these timber?— Yes, that is the position. 120. Now, with regard to plastering, if you were about to erect a building with a considerable amount of plastered partitions would you not use Oregon in preference to red-pine for the plasterwork of the house?— Yes. 121. It is much more suitable for that work? —Yes. 122. The question was raised as to a man using Oregon when he could obtain rimu: now, would you consider that a man would be within his rights, even if he chose timber that came from