THE TIMBER INDUSTRY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 28, 3 February 1909, Page 3

THE TIMBER INDUSTRY.

<. KAUR] NOT AFFECTED. [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, 2nd Febiuary. Although there seams to be a good deal of trouble amongst the timber millers in the south, and cutting in prices is reported to be going on down there, enquiries made hero to-day elicited the fact that the position of kauri timber is in no way affected. One leading member of the trade, svhen. asked upon the subject, remarked : "You see, our kauri is not likely to bo affected by the other timbers, because, although building is quieter here than it Mai, there is at the present time an excellent demand for ihtches for the Home market at full pric<?s. >Some big contracts have been placed recently, and could have been got for eighteen months ahead at the present prices, only the milleia would not accept such heavy lines. Contracts have, however, been made for twelve months ahead, and, a& I said before, the rates are not cut in any way As a matter of iact, as soon as the vessel is leaded the money can be drawn for tho timber. As far as other timbers are concerned, the real 'trouble is that the: opening up of thq railway right through to Wellington has given access to rimu and totara bushes, which are being worked. This .caused a number of firms to stait, many ot them with too little capital to enrablc them to hold out, and I suppose they are cutting the price for those timbers. But with such a strong market abroad for kauri, there is no chance of prices falling here for that timbei. It is quite true that there is a failingoff in building at the present lime, ow ing to the scarcity of money, but that is not likely to Jast long, as there is still a great demand for dwellings of tho proper class, and workmen at the present time have to pay rents that they really cannot afford from the wages they earn.' 7 THE ROYAL COMMISSION. CHRISTCHURCH, 2nd February. Mr. E. A. Wickes. secretary of the West Coa.«t Sawmillers' Association, in the course of an interview, stated that the scope of the limber commission was wide enough, but much would depend on the personnel of the commission, lie thought it would be a mistake to restrict the sittings of the commission to tho four centres. While gianting that important evidence would be given in the cities, which were tho Irrgept consumers of timber, he was of opinion that il wap of equal, if not greater importance that the commission thould visit the cawmilling districts of the Dominion, and, it possible, see tne methods adopted from the felling of the trees to the cutting and shipment of the timber, ar.d th& bush areas, to get. some Idea of the available milling timber.