Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit Friday, November 8, 1912. THE PRICE OF TIMBER,

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIII, Issue 8407, 8 November 1912, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit Friday, November 8, 1912. THE PRICE OF TIMBER,

In our recent article on ]N Tew Zealand's timber supply we made a passingl reference to the bearing that the threatened shortage has upon the " burning question of the cost of living. It may., be found" shortly that Another vexed problem-—that of the declining birth-rate—has been rendered more acute by the high price of timber. The rise in the cost of building* timber, for example, affects all classes, but it presses most severely upon people with small incomes. Jn this country the majority of people must purchase or build their own houses, and in most cases men prefer not to marry until they are able to provide a home. How, then, does the increasing price of timber affect social conditions? It makes it, extremely difficult and in some cases impossible for men to provide such homes as are necessary for a wife and family. Houses which a few years ago could be built for £300 to £400 cannot now be erected for less than £500 to £600. It is easy to see how existing conditions must operate to prevent early marriages and large families. High land values, dear building material, and enhanced cost of all the necessaries of life are retarding the progress and natural growth of the Dominion,

The Legislature and the Government have done something to remedy "this unhappy state, of things, and a small measure of relief has been extended. The industrial workers in the cities, for instance, are provided with special trains by which they can travel at "reduced rates to cheaper dwellings in the suburbs. Money has been lent to workers for building homes at a rate of interest so low that the periodical payments covering interest and principal amount to less than might be given a landlord in the shape of rent. By the latest amendment to the Loans to Workers Act a man with £10, whose income does not exceed £200 a year, may apply to the State and obtain money to build himself a house. But even the State has its limitations. Money, is^not borrowed for this purpose to an unlimited extent, and the applications of many must he refused. . While giving successive Governments every credit for good intentions and for what has been actually accomplished, we cannot fail to observe a certain lack of consistency or of well-directed and sustained effort in the desired direction. The people in or near seaport towns have been well catered for, while those in the country districts have been left to suffer. The latter class are necessarily, penalised to some extent by having to live at a distance from the seaboard, with the result that they have heavy freight to pay on all the goods they consume or the produce they send out. Is there any reason why they should be further penalised by..'having to pay an additionarimpost on the timber they may require? It seems that some ten years ago, when those engaged in the timber industry were

crying* out for protection, a novel idea was put into practice. To disturb the tariff might have led to trouble, and to escape givingl offence to the city members of Parliament, it was decided to prejudice imported timber by charging- 50 per cent over and above the ordinary rate of freight for carryingl it on the New Zealand railways. The reason given for the additional charge was that Oregon and other imported timbers were heavier than New Zea land timbers, but as a matter of fact unseasoned heart of red pine is of about equal weight with the sanie quantity of imported timber. This rate and a half is a severe tax. on farmers in the back country and people living in inland towns, for imported timber is often preferred for posts and stakes and is also used for build ing purposes..

The method by which imported timbers are protected is such that the unjust impost has not awakened a great deal of resentment, and the fact that they are askei to ..bear ajone what should be shared 'by their seaport brothers has escaped the notice of many country people. The additional railway charges for imported timber can be defended On no sound economic ground; and even if it were conceded that local industry was in need of; protection at the time the alteration was made, this is no longer so. The demand for New Zealand timber is so great, and the supply is diminishing so quickly, that a note of alarm may well be sounded. In a few years the timber now refused free admission will not be available, and what will the price of New Zealand timber be then? At the present time red pine costs 9s Gd per 100 feet on shipboard at Greyniouth. The Union Steamship Company charges 3s 3d for landing it at. Lyttelton, and for bringing it on to Ashburton the Railway Department collects a further 3s ■. The cost of handling the timber at the yards, and of seasoning and carting it, has also to be allowed for. Is it any marvel that the cost of house building has so largely increased? The time is surely ripe for Government action to remedy this state of things. Large quantities of our best timber are now being exported, , thus enhancing the value of what is left and the saw-milling industry, is in a flourishing condition. If the Legislature cannot see its way to abolish the tariff on imported timber, it cannot shirk its plain duty of removing the iniquitous 50 per cent, impost on farmers and country residents. We trust that the local Agricultural and Pastoral Association will take up the matter and make strong representations to the Government to do justice to those who suffer from this differential rate.