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Licensing Blamed For Mahogany Shortage

The real reason for the present extreme shortage of Sapele mahogany timber was almost wholly import licensing. said Mr H. S. Cook, manager of the Jarrah Timber Company, in a letter to “The Press” yesterday. The shortage was described in “The Press” yesterday by Mr C. N. Ellertn, who attributed the shortage to problems of supply in Ghana and shipping difficulties.

Mr Cook said this was true, but the real reason was that import licensing was totally inadequate to meet the increased demand for mahogany “All licences for timber were reduced by 20 per cent in 1961 and since then overseas and shipping costs have increased so much that It is only possible to buy about 50 per cent of the demand with the same amount of licence,” he said.

All furniture manufacturers in New Zealand are facing the same problem They have as a body, with the help of the Associated Chambers of Com-

merce, the Importers’ Association and the Merchants’ Federation, applied for relief to the Government without any success to date. “The Jarrah Timber Company- is one of the main suppliers of Sapele in the South Island and since the cut in 1961 all shipments have been completely rationed out to manufacturers long before arrival and the company has not been able to hold any in stock for smaller users for three years.

“Even if some extra licence could be granted during the next two weeks it would be extremely doubtful if the timber could be landed before the licence expires on June 30, 1965, and extensions of time are allowed only in the most exceptional circumstances.”

Mr Cook said the shipping position was such that it took almost six months from the date of ordering to have the timber loaded on board, and. with trans-shipments on the wav, it sometimes took another six months for the timjber to reach New Zealand.

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19640828.2.82

Bibliographic details

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30531, 28 August 1964, Page 10

Word Count
320

Licensing Blamed For Mahogany Shortage Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30531, 28 August 1964, Page 10

Licensing Blamed For Mahogany Shortage Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30531, 28 August 1964, Page 10