LOSING OF STATE SAWMILL

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21257, 31 August 1934, Page 12

LOSING OF STATE SAWMILL

; ; PKOTEST r.V COALITION | MKMIiEi; [From Our J'url!«me:i:ury Reporter..,' WELLINGTON'. August 'id. Tiie c!> vision of the Railways Board close the State i-awmill at Mainuku. Rotorua, as from to-morrow, was, vigoi ously denounced by Mi- C. K. Clinkard <C\. Rotoruat, speaking in the ! Imprest, Supply debate in the House of i Rfpivst ntaliveo this evening. Mr Clinkard claimed that. the \i 1 Ir; >c uf Mamaku was dependent on the mill : lor its livelihood. Sbrty employe*. < : 'Would he thrown out of 'rn'k. "The rea.-on advance'.! for this acti>>j> • is that the mill has maintained its profits by what is said to be uvj'charging to other branches of the railway.-: s-.rvice in prices of timber," In: ! aid. "It appears that a domestic dispute arose aiming the various parties. - •\s a rcailt, the Railways Board called Tor tenders, and was able to get quotations at materially lower prices than , from if;, own mill. Instead of overhauling its own management, the 1 board accepted those outside tenders." . Mr Clinkard said all mill activity was to cease because of the absolute ' incapacity of the board to administer it. Proposals to keep the mill open ' had been turned down, although they , had a reasonable chance of success. It would be well for Mr Forbes, as Min- i i«ler for Railways, to review his po:.i- i tion and see whether he had not handed over too much of his former ; responsibilities to the board. Mr I Forbes would not have closed the mill ■. had he still control. ! The next speaker, Mr R. Semple | 'Lab., Wellington East), said Mr j Clinkard had delivered a stinging in- ; dictment against his own Government. ; lie did not know how Mr Clinkard j could rt main longer on the Govern- ; meat side of the House. :