STATE SAWMILLS,

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 107, 2 November 1909, Page 7

STATE SAWMILLS,

WORKERS FAVOUR THE / PROPOSAL. Speaking at the Timber Workers' Conference to-day, Mr. O'Byrne (Southland) urged tho establishment of State sawmills and State timber yards for the Eurpose -of regulating the price of timer. Thits, he considered, would meet the difficulty of Oregon pine, on which a tariff duty should be placed. About ten thousand workers 'were dependent on the timber industry, iind they should be considered. The private individual got the benefit of State railways through the virgin forest. The State should have reserved large areas for their own use and development. State railways had to get their material from private employers. State timber yards would do away with those trusts, which were very prominent indeed in New Zealand. ■ It was not the sawmiller, but the timber merchant, who got the profits. He moved : That the Government be urged to establish State sawmills and State timber yards. Mr. Tuffen (Otago) pointed out how State coal depots had reduced the price of coal, and how in a similar way cheap timber might be provided for ths people. Mr. Phelan (Auckland) suggested the Government 'should take over sawmills in the King Country. Mr. O'Byrne added that the private employer, when taking over Crown bush at a royalty, always under-estimated the quantity of timber. The State did not get more than 3d a hundred feet on an average right through. The motion was carried. IMPORTED TIMBER. Later on Mr. GarbuL (Otago) moved : "That ..the Government be urged te increase the duty on all timber under certain sizes or its equivalent, with a special duty on all dressed or manufactured timber imported. Any timber used for packing of 4pors or sashes, if dressed, to be charged full duty." SeveuaL speakers protested against importations of manufactured timber, the work of sweated labour. The motion was carried.