PROCESSING TIMBER

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30480, 30 June 1964, Page 8

PROCESSING TIMBER

Trade Concern At Policy The Government had to be convinced that any increased processing of West Coast timber on the West Coast would result in increased costs and loss of services which would more than outweigh additional employment created there, said the secretary of the Canterbury Joinery Manufacturers’ Association (Mr R. M. Smith). The public interest demanded that the Government should be satisfied that this was the case, he said. Mr Smith said that the announcement that 80 per cent of sawn West Coast timber would be processed on the West Coast was causing grave concern locally. “It is thought that if the processing were established, it would ' affect only 400 to 600 men on the coast, but would concern many more in Canterbury.

“As far as we know no expert opinion was sought as to whether the scheme would be practicable. Many feel that the whole scheme is completely impracticable,” Mr Smith said.

A meeting of all parties interested in the timber processing industry was held on Thursday when representatives of the association outlined the position as it affected Canterbury timber users. It was attended by representatives of the Canterbury and South Canterbury Master Builders’ Association, the Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Institute of Architects, timber merchants, and the Canterbury Public Relations Officer (Mr C. N. Todd).

The orgimisations represented at. the meeting will in turn discuss the position in preparation for another meeting with the association on July 23. ,