TASMANIAN TIMBER TRADE

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13094, 20 April 1908, Page 3

TASMANIAN TIMBER TRADE

SHIPPERS' GRIEVANCES.

.In. reference to.the difficulty experienced in obtaining supplies of Tas--manian timber, the position is thus explained by the "Hobart Mercury":— The timber merchants of the city aare still much exercised over what amounts to blocking their trade with Now Zealand, owing, they declare, to the shipping companies not taking their con-, signmonts to the Dominion, because they do not amount to a shipload at a time. They protest against the. explanation offered, that the steamers trading between Hobart and New .Zealand "are primarily mail and passenger boats, arid could not, therefore, afford the time necessary to handle quantities of timber to be distributed 111 retail fashion over several Dominion ports; but if sufficient quantities wero offering to warrant the call of a special steamer, it would be provided'; that at present the timber merchants aro trying to carry on a retail trade with Now Zealand, while making Hobart the distributing base." The timber merchants cay that the steamship companies have captured the trade, having driven sailing boats out" of it, atad are now acting "on the dog-in-the-manger principle. The Hobart timber trade with New Zealand is rapidly increasing, notably in split palings and hardwood. Hundreds of 'thousands of feet of timber are said to be mhv at the mills awaiting shipment, whilst out of the barque Tropic there were 250.000 feet of deals for transhipment to New Zealand, and on the Hobart wharves at present there are said to be upwards of 150,000 feet of deals, and about 150,000 feet of Tasmanian timber waiting to go to the same destination. Some of it has been waiting sinco February last. The merchants complain, and seemingly with reason, that the difficulty of transit is a great check to the development of what, with adequate facilities, is likely to be a great trade with New Zealand. Telegrams are being received from the Dominion pressing for the timber, and tho exporters are helpless. The position is certainly very unsatisfactory, and wo hope that the shipping companies will he able to make some arrangements for carrying on the trade.