THE TIMBER SHORTAGE

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 13228, 19 August 1943, Page 4

THE TIMBER SHORTAGE

TAURANGA’S POSITION Predicament Of Joinery Firms Efforts To Obtain Relief The difficulty experienced by joinery firms in Tauranga in obtaining supplies of timber was the subject of further reference at the monthly meeting of the Tauranga Chamber of Commerce on Monday evening, when it was decided to again communicate with the authorities in Wellington asking what steps had been taken to relieve the position.

In a letter to the chamber Mr F. W. Dridge M.P. stated that together with the Hon. B. C. Robbins M.L.C. he had had interviews with officials at the Forestry Department and at the Building Control Department. Mr Entrican, whom they first saw. emphasised that the shortage of timber was a national problem, and that Tauranga was no worse off than every other town in New Zealand. His department, he said, had to work under the priority programme laid down by the Building Controller, and every stick of timber was to-day needed on jobs classed as “essential.” He promised that so soon as “priority claims” eased up, Tauranga would receive ‘‘first con-' sideration.”

Mr Albertson, of the Building Controller's office, added Mr Doidge, could tell them little more than they had been told by Mr Entrican. Defence and other “essential” jobs had to come first. This officer Avent a little further than his colleague in that he promised that he Avould investigate Tauranga’s problem aneAV, with a vieAV to possibly meeting special circumstances.”

“Mr. Robbins and I did all Ave could to make plain the urgency of the position in Tauranga,” added Mr Doidge. “I am sorry that as the outcome of these intervieAVS I cannot renort more definite results. Mr T. D. Harvey reported that the position in Tauranga Avas still difficult. Tauranga was definitely Averse off than Hamilton. The worst feature was that practically all the timber from the mills in this district Avas going to Auckland.

The president (Mr L. E. Woods) said the letter from Mr Doidge did hold out a little hope, when it stated that the authorities had agreed to investigate Tauranga’s problem. Mr F. N. Christian said the position did seem absurd. It was the sash and door factories the chamber was concerned about. Those businesses had been built up over a number of years, and Tauranga did not wish to lose them, as it might do. It was finally decided that the Building Controller’s office be‘written to asking the results of the promised investigation, pointing out that the position here __ was worse than in other centres and asking what steps were being taken to remedy it.