THE TIMBER TRADE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 319, 5 October 1908, Page 6

THE TIMBER TRADE.

. POSITION EXPLAINED. (l!T TELEOKAHI—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) • Auckland, October 3. Tliero lias been a great deal of agitation recently for the increase of the import duty on Oregon pine or Douglas fir, as it is more correctly termed. A gentleman prominently connected with the timber milling industry in Auckland, speaking on tho subject today, said:—"The circumstances which gave rise to the present agitation were entirely exceptional, and aroso out of tho financial crisis which occurred at the end of last year in America, and also to a rate war which ensued between the railway companies and the lumber men. Many American mills were closed on account of tho financial crisis, and other mills closed rather than pay the increased rates of freight to the East. This caused tho lumber men to rely very largely 011 tho export trade by sea, which was only a small amount of their general output. Tho consequence was that tho prices fell very low. The rate war is now practically over, as also is the financial crisis, but owing to the slump many loggers ceased operations, while tho stocks of logs aro now very low. The stocks of sawn in the East are also short. There will therefore be insufficient logs to meet the demand which will como from tho East, and prices will probably go up to prohibitive, rates so far as New Zealand is concerned. For some time there was a timber famine in Auckland, the supply being unequal to tho demand, and there was always a class of work going oil that required a grade of timber perhaps' not tfMfual to tho best kauri, but superior to the sap timbers of other New Zealand woods. Many builders and contractors were greatly inconvenienced owing to this shortage. West Coast millers advertised that they were willing to supply largo quantities per month, but when given a chance to supply to tho specifications of tho imported timber, which was heart, they were unable to do it. The local millers naturally took advantago of tho low rates ruling for Oregon and imported it. Tho* quotations, however, have already hardened.in America, and freight rates have also increased so that an increased import duty is not required."