LOCAL TIMBER

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 38, 13 August 1930, Page 4

LOCAL TIMBER

OUTSIDE COM PETITION

TARIFF .INCREASED

• Commenting" on '-the resolutions providing, for increased rates of duty on imported- timber, Mr,.'.Forbes pointed out that the increased, protection afforded to the local industry in 1927 ilid;not.have the desired-effect of encouraging,the use of local timber rather than imported timber. At the present time'tho' local industry was suffering from; a: severe depression, and it was necessary tha£ every reasonable nssistanec' should bo given, so that as little hardship, as possible might. bo felt:by-■the."'industry and the men engaged therein. . "Since the first-resolutions wore brought down," said'.tho Prime Minister, '.'it1 has been, pointed, out that during the past year reductions in the export/prices to-the extent of about 2s pei' 100 super feet have been made on some of the main kinds of rough sawn timber shipped to New Zealand. This means' that even with tho added protection, accorded under the old resolutions the local industry is practically not in a much better position to meet competition from imported timber than it was, say a year ago. It has accordingly been decided to increase the duty on rough sawn timber to the extent of 2s pet 100 super feet, and members will notice that ■-'-• ftie fluty iis-rio-W'fixed.at-.9s'6d.:per 100 super, feet on such timber in small sizes and at 7s 6d on balk timber, " "It has .been pointed out that under the -previousl resolutions- it was possible that it might be more profitable to "import' dressed timber than rough sawn."timber;'Tho duty on sawn dressed timber Has now been fixed at 19s per 100 .super feet. Most of the dressed timber is imported in the form of lining or ceiling., The ..result of the duty now proposed should be that if timber is imported it should come into the country in the rough, and that any dressing should be dono locally. j Provision has been made for aj duty of 25s per 100 cubic feet to be imposed on unworked logs and for hewn timber to be placed on the same footing as rough sawn timber, i "If this were not done it is possible that large quantities of timber in tho form oi logs or hewn timber might be imported timber but to encourage the the object of the tariff on timber is not to protect the sawing and dressing of imported timber, but to encourage the New' Zealand timber industry and tho sawing and dressing of local timber. The duty on laths and shingles has been increased -from 10 per cent, to 20 per cent, in conformity with the alterations made in the duties on the other kinds of timber already referred to. ;