OREGON PINE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 333, 21 October 1908, Page 10

OREGON PINE.

Indravelli, at present in Auckland,: is reported to have brought threo and a half million feet of Oregon timbor for different ports in New Zealand. Now, is it paying this country to allow such hugo quantities-of foreign timbors in on the presont basis? If 1 it can be proved that such is'the case, then I say lot it .all come. With your permission I will endeavour to' :show wlialja shipment of timber such as the' - lias'laHded ; ,really means to Zqalandi In the first"place, threo and a half million feet is 18 months' solid, work for a New Zealand'sawmill a trifle larger' than the^-'average. Let 'us' supposo this mill is situated in the -Ran^itikei,District, and the ,fpllbwing;.'v.'ill"b'()j sbmething like, although : '.a ;ver^-w.%tirila^' ! df'-what this -countrj— ,qr the)'p^|jle,, v.'lfi'eU /is"' the same—will re■'c'oive from Royalty, at 6d. ... ... ... 875 Wa'ges, at -3s. - .;. ... ... ■ 5250 Railagej" cartage, etc., 3s. ... ..: 5250 MiscollanepUs, at 6d; ... •875 A total of -•'■ ~.£12,250 ' Now w.o- might- t.o.ke - what tho country receives from- tho Oregon, which is as under: — £. Duty, at 2s. ... 3500 , ■ Wharfage,'- at-'6d. ,! 728 !■; - ' £4228

Some people talk aboiifc'the labour on tlm Oregon, -'but the 'merchant' has to pay for that 'whether ,: it- is N'ew Zealand'or foreign timber just.the same. Tho freight.from o place su'ch-.as, sajy ; Taihape, is 3s. 6d. to Wellington,' so ''that-in order to prove the very low basis .1 have taken in quoting figures for tho' -New Zealand mill, the miller would have to put the timber on the trucks at '3s.'6d. per 100 super., a price not one of them could look atf.'7 You' aro continually hearing; "Wo' ar.£"'prosc]'ving our own' forests by allowing Oregon in." Thoro is no' doubt about that,- but who will step in and help the hundreds of millers who have not only stakod all their own money on tho timber industry, but'-have borrowed as well, and who ..have for years past given employment'to. thousands oflhands in this country. If'those : Miners Wo'forced to closo down now it prpbably .rqeans. they lose everything. ;As is concerned, the country'does not'' really receive 2s. duty, as thp Government'lias';''in cases paid a good portion'(if; this"back by''way of subsidies to' •th.o shipping eonipauies. In' conclusion, I only;. is' time something is done one Iviiy or, tho * otlior, as tlicro isabsnlute'ly''no ■ doubf'ihat the foreign timber has practically- crippled' tho sawmilling in-, dustry lii Ne^'Zfsala'nd.—l am, etc,, " ""O'UT OF the LINE, : Uctober .lo.; ,y«» ,j+ v