TIMBER COMMISSION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 478, 10 April 1909, Page 14

TIMBER COMMISSION.

ORECON'S INROADS. EVIDENCE AT CHRISTCHUIICH. (nr TELiauiru—raESd association.) Christchurch, April 7. The Timber Commission resumed to-day. Mr. AV. Goss, timber merchant, continued his evidence. He said he had made an investigation into tho prices paid for timber, and found that in 1874 the prices paid for red pino were 17s. and 18s. from Banks Peninsula, when thero wore not heavy expenses for carriage. Ho produced a balance-sheet of a timber company which ho had referred to on tho provious day. Mr. Hanan asked if witness would produco tho previous year's balance-sheet of the same company. Mr. _ Goss said that he would give the Bamo information in regard to that balancesheet. Mr. Hanan thought that the balance-shoot gave a one-sided statement. It really gave only one side of the ledger, the expenses. Mr. Goss: It ought to give you all you require for the purposes of the Commission I take it. Mr. Hanan: That is a matter of opinion. The Chairman: I think you aro wanting too much. An accountant can toll us all wo require to know. Mr. Hanan: AVe ought to have two sides of the ledger. In reply to further questions' by Mr. Hanan, Mr. Goss stated that his own business had decreased steadily since tho Exhibition period. Oregon pino had displaced red pine foot for foot on ovory foot that came in. He would not say that profit was not being made in his business, but it was not making tho profit it should make on the amount of money invested. To Mr. Jennings: Tho output from the mills was not tho samo. He did not think men worked as well as they used to, but, perhaps, they would do so 'if the necessity arose. Merchants would be glad to know of any process to season timber quickly, as it would remove the necessity of their holding large stocks. To Mr. Field: Sorting might as well he done at the yard rather than at tho mill. Ho was told that Oregon was not durable lfc was kept affa y from dam P' In 1890 he recognised the price of timbej was 10s., but some firms sold for 9s. 6d. Merchants, however, were now paving 3s. more for timber, and other charges and freight on railway were higher. He thought that a charge of 2s. extra for dry timber was if anything too small. In regard to conservation of bush areas, he had a great droad in regard to his own bush on the West Coast, that unless he got it out pretty soon it would not bo left very long for him. lhere were all sorts of dangers, and the fire had been very close to his bush. Generally bush land might give a better return to the country if it was settled. It was worthy of consideration whether the unearned increment attached to virgin forest would give as much return as settlement of the lands. To Mr. Morris: In witness's opinion 50 per cent, was tho maximum amount of good clean timber to bo got from red pine logs. Oregon was not very much required in Christchurch. He did not consider that the price charged for AVest Coast timber was too much. To Mr. Barber: Christchurch was not getting more than 25 per cent, of the timber from tho West Coast that it was getting eighteen months ago. To Mr. Arnold: Witness did not think that the pneo of local timber would bo raised if the duty on Oregon pino was increased, unless the demand increased. Internal competition was sufficient to keep prices down. The association had been in existence for six years, its object being the mutual protection of members and tho botterment of the timber trade. The pricelist was accepted by all members. Tho association had no connection with tho Builders Association. There was never any suggestion by the Builders' Association that the timber merchants should not supply builders outsido the. association. He did not know of any miller outside tho Millers' Association The timber merchants paid wages acsatisfa S t aW3rd Whieh WaS 6 enerall y To Mr Mander: Sap rimu would stand as long inside a building as heart rimu would stand outside. He had never made any distinction between outside sap and inside sap. lo Mr. Morris: He did not think it would be practicable m tho AA'est Coast bush to cut out large trees and leave younger ones. Ldwin Henshal], timber merchant, of l'apanui, statedl that he got his supplies from the West Coast, through local agents. There was much less salo for timber in Christchurch now than there was two years ago. Ho was not interested in sawmills, but did some building. To Mr. Hanan: Ho did not favour any alteration of the duty on Oregon. Ho thought there had been a slight rise in jarrah eight months ago. Ho did not know why tJio increase was made. The association charged a fee of £5 ss. to join: there were some merchants outside tho association. Ho had sold from 12,000 ft. to 14,000 ft. of Oregon during the past 12 months. lo Mr. Leyland: Tho association did not fix the pnee of jarrah. It was fixed bv tho Jarrah Company. Oregon was a good" timber for long lengths and beams. To Mr. Barber: If the price of Oregon rose at the source of supply it would not como to Now Zealand. Tho Commissioner of Crown Lands, Mr. f.: G -,<*>Msn.ith; stated that tlhe total quantity of milling timber available in the Canterbury land district was 31,541,000 ft. This was quite a guess, as it was impossible to give an opinion without a survey. Ho would not for a moment say that tho estimate was a correct one. It was mado up from reports by rangers and other persons. There were 11.J20 acres leased for sawmilling purposes. At this stage the Commissioner stated that it would be more convenient if he were allowed some time to summarise statistics which were available, and it was agreed to postpone the hearing of his evidence till next day. Edmund Gee, Venetian blind-maker, stated that Caledonian redwood at 235. per 1000 ft., milled and in bundles of 5000 ft., was used for ttan laths, and kauri for thicker laths. Other New Zealand timbers had been tried but were unsatisfactory. The actual landed cost of redwood was 255. per 1000 running feet. to Half Davison, employed in the furniture business, stated that the New Zealand timber used per annum was 75,000 to 100,000 ft. of kauri and 75,000 ft. of rimu and beech. The imported timbers used were walnut, mahogany, cedar, oak (figured and plain), and blackwood. These were much dearer than New Zealand, costing as much as £5 10s. per 100 ft. Rimu cost 13s. 6d. at the railway, and kauri 255. for first-class. lhe commission adjourned till to-morrow. Christchurch, April 8. Tho Timber Commission resumed to-day. Alfred Elliott, Collector of Customs, produced a return of timber from abroad inipoortcd into Port Lyttolton for two years ended Juno 30, 1908. In reply to Mr. Ell, witness stated ho had no record of any kauri being imported from Australia. AVilliam Jacques, builder, stated that in 1901 the price of ordinary undressed timber was 13s. 3d., and dressed 2s. extra. In 190S two lists were issued. In January ordinary timber was 165., and in November it was 14s. 6d., but that did not reprosout tho actual stato of tho market, because tho list was altered, and other prices were raised. Kauri had gone up considerably. Ordinary kauri flitches of 12in. had risen 9s. per 100 foot in oight years. In 1904 the price of seasoned timber was 6d. more than unseasoned. In his opinion, there should bo a largo export duty on kauri. Robert Alleson, secretary of tho Central Dajry Company, stated that the prico of white pine for butter boxes seemed to havo increased somewhat during the past few years. AYitness thought that the Government should make some special plantations of white pine unless a satisfactory substitute for butter boxes was found. C. H. Biss, district railway engineer, gave details of timbers used on tho Canterbury section of railways. In reply to questions, witness stated that as far as he was aware tho Railway Department was not doing any .j pleating for future rnauiremaui*. U. W_

rolinguishod that work whon tho' Forestry Department was established. liarold Lightband gave tho commission some information concerning the uso of creosotod sleepers in America. George Edward Richardson, manager of Addington workshops, gavo details of tho timber used at the works. E. AV. Waller, timber merchant, said that ho had been in business in Christchurch for thirty years, and was a member of tho association. There had been a largo number of attacks on the association in certain papers in Christchurch, and merchants had replied to tho extent that they were prepared to welcome tho commission to Christchurch, and givo all possible information. With regard to kauri, he said that it was essential that they should 'get larger stocks into their yards in winter. Ho asserted that never before had tho standard of timber required been so high. Expenses of timber merchants were continually creeping up. As far as ho knew, builders could bo supplied promptly with tho timber they required. The gross profit on his firm's turnover last year was from 15 to 16 per Out of that all expenses had to bo paid—rates, rents, labour, etc., and ho could assure the commission that very little profit was loft. Wm. Cook said his connection with the timber trade was by way of freight. Ho had three Schooners carrying timber from Groymouth, Kaipara, and AVcstport. He would sell thorn to any member of the commission at valuation. Freight from Kaipara was 3s. on kauri and rimu, and 3s. 3d. on matai and totara. The Union Steam Ship Company also carried timber, and charged tho samo freights. If sailers wore running they would get cargoes, as,timber was less damaged on sailing vessels than on steamers. In reply to further questions, witness said that the rediculous shipping laws of tho Dominion caused a lot of expense, and prevented a reduction in freights. A schooner of 100 tons had to carry first and second oilicers. Henry James Nightingale, builder, gave evidence as to various works for which rimu was suitable. AY. Goss was permitted to make an explanation, to the effect that removal of tho duty on Oregon had never been discussed by tho Merchants' Association. On tho motion of Mr. Ell, a hearty 'vote of thanks was passed to the Christchurch witnesses for tho satisfactory and straightforward manner in which they had given their evidence. Mr. Goss thanked tho members of tho commission for the manner in which they had received witnesses. The commission then adjourned, and leaves to-morrow for Hanmcr, returning on Monday, and leaving on Tuesday for tho AVcst Coast, via Otira.