SAWMILLS CLOSING

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 34, 10 February 1927, Page 13

SAWMILLS CLOSING

IMPORTED TIMBER BLAMED

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

HOKITIKA, 9th February. . News from South Westland to-day indicates that additional sawmills an dosing down 'in that quarter. The Boss correspondent of the "Hokitika Guardian" states that 50 per cent, of the male population are dependent on sawmill work,-and that all mills in tho locality have now closed, or are closing. There aro large supplies of sawn timber on hand, and for some few days employment will be afforded by filleting white pine to prevent serious der terioration; otherwise the outlook for millers and employees is anything but bright. Men are now daily seeking employment, which is not available. A local miller who had to close down said that the state of the timber trade was principally due to the importation of timbers from Canada and the United States, causing a shortage of orders for New Zealand timber. Most of the timber yards" in buying centres are congested with New Zealand timbers. which have had to give way to import ations from overseas.. There is no immediate prospect of the market im proving unless builders l?uy only New Zealand timber.