TIMBER DUTIES

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 50, 27 August 1930, Page 3

TIMBER DUTIES

HIGHER PRICES PREDICTED

VBBWS OF A BUILDER

(By Telegraph.)

(Special to "The Evening Port.");

DUNEDIN, This Day.

A Dunedin builder of long standing said that the depression in the sawmill* ing trade was not caused wholly by th« importation of timber. This depression extended to most trades.

Ten years ago, he said, a large quantity of inferior New Zealand ..timber was cut into rough lining, etc, and this was being replaced by plaster boards, which made a better job than rough lining. That replacement could not bai charged against, importation. .If the proposal of the sawmillers .that no Oregon be imported in sizes less than 12ia x 12in was carried into effect, it would mean that the consumer in New Zealand would have to pay heavy freight charges on sawdust. If the suggestion, of the Sawmillers' Federation that timber 12 x 12 or over should be imported and that the sawing should be done here was carried into effect, a. number of joinery factories would be thrown out of business as they would be at the mercy of the big sawmillers and would have to pay. a much.highei1 price than at present/Would it.not b» better for the sawmillers, instead ol going to the Government and. getting 100 per cent, protection, a(nd going back and asking for mere, to endeavour to put their own house in order and find out where the leaks occurred f

A house built in Dunedin thirty years ago, continued the builder, cost.' 3s 6d for red pine at the mill. The sawmillers evidently made it pay, as the whole of the bush was worked out and they did not go into the. Bankrugtcy, Court. At that time they worked the bush and hauled the logs out by means of bullocks, while at the present timrf the sawmiller had machinery, and if it could be made, to pay at these ratei thirty years ago, what must be tne pro* fits which were being made now? It had been reported that as soon as th« tariff was out of the way the prices of red pine would, be increased in the near future. •- '• ■