TIMBER COMMISSION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 506, 13 May 1909, Page 2

TIMBER COMMISSION.

> VIEWS OF HON, E. MITCHELSON. IDY TEI.EGUiriI—IMIESS «SSOCI.\TION.I Auckland, May 12. "Before.' the-Ember Commission, the Hon; E. Mitehelson, representing- Mitehelson and, Company, largo timber exporters,, said" his company had not paid a dividend for the last five years, .though--last.-year they mad© a profit:of 9j!por cent., without allowing for depreciation. He opposed an export duty on' kauri, which would close all the northern' mills, and throw a largo number of men out of employment, without cheapening timber, which .wis at bedrock prices now. It waa tho purest nonsense to talk of conservation V of two bush in viow of insecurity from firo risks. Ho denied that timber was re-ex-ported from Australia'at prices lower than ~ wero charged here. Ho thought tho present duty on Oregon pine sufficient. 1 Mr. H. P; Kavauagh, timber expert, said . tho bush, especially-kauri, wns getting very romote. There was not much clianoo of kauri falling in price. Ho oxpccted to set it up to £2 per 100 feet. At tho present rate of consumption ho estimated that supplies of kauri would be exhausted ill from six to seven years, and othor timbers on <Jio present output would bo exhausted m TJ years. Afforestation should bo pushed on without delay. Ho did not favour imposing a duty on Oregon pine, believing'wo should import what tirabor was required.