THE TIMBER INDUSTRY.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 169, 17 July 1919, Page 9

THE TIMBER INDUSTRY.

- ♦• — GBEATLY IMPERILLED.

B y GOVERNMENT MEDDLING.

RESTRICTIONS RESENTED.

Government interference with the sawjnilling industry formed the subject of a deputation to the Auckland Farmers' Union. The deputation comprised Messrs H. Valder, managing director for Messrs Ellis and Burnand, and J. Butler, managing director of the Kauri Timber Co. Jlr. Valder said they represented not . only local interests, but the Federation of Saw-millers' Associations throughout the -whole of the Dominion. They claimed, in fact, to represent the largest industry in Neve Zealand after cutting out those industries connected with the land, and that the labour employed by them was more than that employed by any other manufacturing industrj-. At their conference in Wellington several j months ago it was brought under the notice of the executive that the Farmers' Union had affirmed the principle that now the war had ceased, Government control of the products of the land should also cease. There were many measures brought in during the war ■srhich were necessary, but now the sawjnillers were at one with the union in seeing that control by the Government of the industries should cease. This, he pointed out, applied also to the timber industry, which had now got to that state that its life was greatly imperilled by the meddling of the Government. The Government was endeavouring to control the industry in many ways, among which he mentioned the control of the export of timber and of the price at which it is to be sold locally. Interference of this kind was having a serious effect on the industry, and had a tendency to frighten capital to such an extent that none would be offering for purposes of development. With regard to this, there were large areas of timber in New Zealand which should be brought into production as soon as possible. Many trees were getting to the stage of "old man trees," when they would commence to decline, and would decline more and more as time passed. They asked the assistance of the union in getting up a large deputation to wait on Cabinet with ' regard to .the matter as soon as the two : leaders of the House returned to New Zealand. Mr. Butler, in support, pointed out that from an economical point of view they should be allowed to get the highest possible price for their products. It was economically unsound, he said, for the Government to restrict the export and at the same time to say that timber should be sold for less in New Zealand that could be obtained for it elsewhere. If we were to meet our war obligations it was essential that we should get as high a price as possible for our products. There was also the question of afforestation, and every effort should be made to impress upon the Government the necessity of going in for afforestation on a much larger and wider scale than in the past. In reference to this, however, the sawmillers considered that as they were in the position of what might be called the harvesters of the timber they should have an equal say in "he matter of planting with those who were undertaking the nursery work. I Mr J. Boddie, president, said that on | most of the points put forward the anion was in agreement with the speak*rs. The matter would receive their fullest consideration.