THE PRICE OF TIMBER.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13083, 6 April 1908, Page 4

THE PRICE OF TIMBER.

» AN AUCK(LAND VIEW. (PEESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND, April 4. Considerable comment has been caused locally by the suggestions of a deputation of builders m Wellington Ito the Minister for Customs to the ' effect that a strong export duty be placed on kauri, and that the duties on foreign timbers be abolished in order to lower tho prices "which, it was stated, wero rising to an exceptional degree in tho capital city. On being i asked for an expression of opinion 'on the subject to-day, the Hon. E. | Mitchelson remarked to a "Star" interviower that he was quite unable to understand the "enormous" prices which wore being charged in Wellington, as stated in the telegram. So far as kauri timber was ooncerned (said Mr Mitchelson), it could not be produced at a lower figure, and the imposition of a duty such as proposed would not affect matters in the slightest, but would merely place the whole' affair in the hands of the millers of rimu and other timbers, as the millers of kauri would bo compelled to close down if forced to sell at lower prices. Rimu, for instance, could be obtained on the West Coast, at Greymouth, for 7s 9d per 100 ft, and at the Northern Wairoa for 8s per 100 ft. As the cost of transport to Wellington would not be more than an additional 2s 6d_ it was hard to understand in the face of these figures how 23s or 24s was being charged in Wellington for heart of. rimu and ir.atai. In regard to the proposal to remove the duties from foreign timber, Mi* Mitchelson also expressed the opinion that such a step would have no effect, as Oregon pin© could be landed in any port in New Zealand. with Customs duties added, for 12s per 100 ft. He was unable to assign any reason for tho prices at Wellington, as mentioned in tho report.