WEST COAST TIMBER SALES

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 310, 25 September 1943, Page 3

WEST COAST TIMBER SALES

(Bv Telegraph.—Press Association.) CIHRUSTCHUBCH, September 24. The Minister of Supply and Munitions, Mr. Sullivan, today referred to a recent; Gazette notice by the Timber Controller which revokes the order issued in 1940. prohibiting the sale of West Coast (South Island) building timber in the southern part of the South Island in order to assist the sawmillers of Southland to dispose of surplus stocks which they had accumulated very rapidly after the outbreak of war. Though sawmillers iu other parts of the Dominion had benefited by Hie increased production occasioned 'by war demands. Southlaud, owing to its geographical position, had not been able to enjoy the same increases, said Mr. Sullivan,. Iu the intervening years, however, the position had changed. All surplus stocks in Southland had now disappeared and timber production there was now insufficient to meet local requirements. In furtherance of. the Goveriiiiient’s policy of not maintaining any war-time controls for a greater period than was absolutely necessary it was decided Io restore the status quo so far as the West Coast sawmillers were concerned and consequently the revoking notice had been gazetted.