THE TIMBER TRADE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 338, 27 October 1908, Page 4

THE TIMBER TRADE.

IMPORTATION OF OREGON PINE. lur TELEGIi.U'II—I'UESS ASSOCIATION.) Ghs'istchurch, October 26. Oregon pino ami its importation to New Zealand formed -the _ subject of an interesting conversation which a "Press" reporter had with Cape. Horno, marine superintendent of tho Indra line, who is at present visiting Lyttelton in tho steamer Indravelli which brought a largo shipment of this useful but much-discusscd timber to New Zealand ports. - Capt. Homo stated that tho whole of the Oregon pino imported into New Zealand was ordered by tho importers in various lengths and sizes. The lumber was cut and "milled" to tho required sizes by Chinese and Japanese labour in the mills of British Columbia. He thought that instead of this being dono tho Oregon pine should bo imported in bulk, or in other words, in large logs or baulks. Tho bulk lumber could then be cut and milled in Now' Zealand mills by whito lnbourinto such sizes and lengths as local requirements mado neecssary. "It is obvious," said Capt. Home, "that this would necessitate continued employment to tho Now Zealand sawmills already in operation, and tho . expenditure now being mado for cutting and milling in Vancouver by 'yellow' labour would bo diverted to our own "population. In this way not only would tho milling industry in New Zealand be fostered, but, owing to tho very low cost of tho raw material, Now Zealanders would provido thomselves with a continued supply of cheap building material, and at the samo timo increase tho wage-earning capacity of tlioir mills, and thoso interested in them." Capt. Horno stated that it should be obvious that tho present duty on Oregon should not bo raised, but that the timber should bo subjected to" a "dimension tariff," thus making tho, importation of tho ready-milled timber (cut to tho various sizes by Chinese and Japaneso labour) unprofitable. Oregon pino in bulk oould tlfen be imported at a cheaper rate than at present. According to Capt. Horno, .tho supply of lumber in British Columbia is practically inexhaustible. Hugo forests of pino trees, ninety feet and moro in height and sevoral foot in thickness, cover hundreds of square miles of country. In spito of tho enormous quantity of Oregon which is being cut daily, the exhaustion of the timber resources of British Columbia is not likely to bo brought about very easily. Owing to tho favourable climatic conditions, the trees 'prow and mature very quickly, and besides that, tho Canadian government lias already taken active steps in tho direction of replanting the pino forests.