HEARTH AND HOME.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18241, 27 November 1924, Page 5

HEARTH AND HOME.

TIMBER PRICES. REDUCTION NOT LIKELY. A few days ago a message was received from "Wellington to the effect that timber prices for lower grades had shown a slight decline of late, especially slow selling lines on which some merchants in. that city had substantially cut their list of quotations. The matter has caused some expectation on the part of the general public in Christchurch that the same reduction might be made in Christchurch, but on enquiry of several well-known timber merchants in the city yesterday, "Builder" was given to understand that at the present time there was no likelihood of any local decrease. The demand for 0.8. timber was keeping up with the supply, and the amount of building going" 011 at the present time seemed to preclude the likelihood of thero being any decrease for some time to come.

Speaking on the question yesterday, a well-known Cliristchureh contractor stated that he did not consider any further reduction in 0.8. timber was likely. The Christchurch market was supplied principally from the West Coast mills, and these already had substantial orders in hand for the Duncdin Exhibition. They would have no difficulty whatever in disposing of .the surplus considering the amount of building going on at present. The Southland' mills, which had frequently supplied Christchurch at reduced prices, were also being kept busy oil Dunedin orders, and there was no likelihood of intervention from that point. The difficulty in obtaining better qualities by having to go further back into the mills and the smaller quantity of better timber available also indicated that there was no likelihood of reduction on this class of material.