WHITE PINE EXPORT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3035, 23 March 1917, Page 6

WHITE PINE EXPORT

RESTRICTION OPPOSED. 'lTio injurious effect which the proposed restriction upon tho export of white pino was likely, to have upon the timber milling industry of the Dominion formed the subject of a discussion at a meeting of' th® Auckland Conciliation Council in the Auckland timber-workers' dispute. The matter, said Mr. H. P. Taylor, employers' assessor, was most important one, and he desired to place before the council tho following resolution: "That this Conciliation Council,,now sitting in the timber-workers' djspute, views with alarm the, promised export duty on white pine, and strongly urges' ths.l the Government, before giving effect to the proposal, should afford an opportunity to tho sawmillers aaid timberWorkers of placing: their sida of iKe question before tho Government." In putting his motion, Mr: Taylor spoke of the injury whisht would bo done to the timber trade by .the imposition of the suggested restriction. The present meeting afforded a. - good opportunity for exchange of opinions botween tho employers and employees of the trade. Mr. J. Butler, an'assessor fr.r the employers, expressed entire sympathy with the resolutir.fr. .-although in view of the fact that ills Board a: Trade had undertaken to inquire into the matter, he was not gure whetli/.- tho council should take it up. Mr. E. Phelan, advocate for the union: The matter is so important that I think we should. It has a direct bearing on the matter of supplies of butter for the troops, as there is no other Nejv Zealand wood so suitable for the manufacture of butterboxes. Butter for the army must be sent Home from Australia as well as from New Zealand, and if we are ne> longer able'to export white pine what are they going to use?

The Commissioner (Mr. T. -.Hark Giles): This resolution, I understand, is being moved with the idea that the proposed restrictions will also risjjH in a number of men being tTirown out of employment, afc the country cannot absorb its, whale Sjlpoly. The_ question therefora rises, is it not in tho interests of New Zealand to. go on exporting? •

Mr. Butler agreed that it was certainly to the interests of sawmill workers that tha timber should he exported. Tii* New Zealand demand would not abcorb mere than a third of the present output for butter-lioxes, aiid in many milliiis., tystricts ifc oflly pvd to export the timber. _ Mr. Piielai;. Tho imposing of theso restrictions would .issgn, that practically three-foucths nf tha mills engaged would have to elosi dswn. People talk of the ease with which men can find work nowadays, but it must be remembered that laost of these men havo homes Moor tho mills, and it would be a serious tiling for them to have to break ity theso hemes and seek fresh employment. Mr. J. W.Ellis, in supporting the motion, mentioned as an additional reason for unrestricted export the fact that tho while, pine areas, when cleared, masto splendid pastoral land. The ruction, which was seconded by Mr. Phelan, was carried unanimously.