TIMBER SLUMP.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18916, 3 February 1927, Page 5

TIMBER SLUMP.

WEST COAST APPEAL TO GOVERNMENT. (srECUL TO TBI FR899.) GREYMOUTH, February 2. Hcfcrcnro was mado to tlio parlous plight of tlio timber trado at a largelynttended public meeting at tlio Greymouth Town Hall this afternoon, when tlio Mayor, Mr W. H. Parlitt, presided. Tlio Major drew attention to tlio serious condition of tho timber industry and tlio largo number of employees why had been thrown out of work as tlio result of tho closing down of a number of mills. Ho was given to understand that the steamer Gabriella, which was loading at Greymouth for Australia, was unable to complete her cargo owing to lack of orders and would bo compelled to sail partly loaded. Mr T. E. Y. Seddon, M.P., said that he did not think that anyono would disagreo with him when he stated that tliero was a crisis in tho timber industry. Ho quoted figures showing the extraordinary increase in foreign timber cxportations, which lie described as most significant. As a result of heavy importations there was an alarming decrease i.ti production in tho Dominion and hundreds of men were unemployed. The importations were maiulv from tho United States, Canada, Sweden, and Japan. He contrasted tlio wages and conditions obtaining in those countries with those in Now Zealand, and said although New Zealand was importing largely from thoso countries skb was getting nothing in return. N Mr McLean, chairman of the Greymouth Chamber of Commerce, said that the state of affairs brought about by the heavy timber importations was appalling. Ho assured the meeting that any movement to relieve the present condition of tho timber trade would have tho whole-hearted support of the Chamber. Mr F. L. Turley, secretary of the Westland Timber Workers' Union, said ho had travelled over tho whole of the sawmilling districts in the Dominion last year and had found tho timber industry languishing through being unable to competo with tho foreign timber, which was milled largely under cheap Asiatic labour conditions. -Bo had just received word that Messrs Stuart and Chapman, one of the biggest firms operating on the Coast,_ was closing down its mil* at Kanieri tomorrow. Over 400 men less were employed in the sawmills on the Coast than twelve months ago. Ho moved: "That this public meeting of citizens of Greymouth urge upon the Prime Minister tho urgent necessity of protecting the timber industry by imposing a larger import duty on foreign timber." . _ Messrs T. K. Y. Seddon, M.P., J. McLean, F. A. Kitchingham, H. F. Doogan, nnd D. M. Robertson supported the resolution, which was carried unanimously. A deputation, consisting of the Mayor (Mr W. H. Parfitt), Messrs F. H. Denton (town clerk), T. K. 1. Seddon, M.P., H. E. Holland, M.P., .T. McLean, 1). M. Robertson, F. L. Turley. and J. W. Grcenslade ; was appointed to wait unon tho Primo Minister at Wellington in connexion with the matter. . It "h'as decided to communicate with other local bodies in the_ Westland, Inanpahun, and Buller districts requesting tlicni to appoint delegates to bo represented on tho deputation.