"ON VERGE OF RUIN"

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 101, 30 April 1937, Page 4

"ON VERGE OF RUIN"

BEECH INDUSTRY

PLEA FOR STATE HELP

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

DUNEDIN, April 29.

A complaint that the beech industry in Otago and Southland was on the verge of ruin as a result of unforeseen reactions to recent Government legislation was made 'by Mr. J. R. Wilson, representative o£ the beech industry on the Sawmillers' Federation, during a visit of the Minister of Lands (the Hon. F. Langstottc) to Tawanui today. Mr. Wilson stated that a considerable trade had been built up with England and Australia, but the higher costs caused by the 40-hour week and the restoration of the 1931 level of wages had killed the former and seriously jeopardised the market in Australia for second-grade timber. He pleaded with the Government to render assistance so that sawmillers could continue to carry out contracts which were made before vthe rise in wages. If assistance was not forthcoming, the industry would undoubted!;- go- on the down grade and perhaps face extinction. ,

The Minister expressed the view that the internal trade in beech timber should be built :up. It was with this object, he said, that the Government had been trying to influence the Fruitgrowers' Federation to place orders for at least 100,000 cases with the mills in Otago'and Southland. He referred to the probability-of a greater amount of timber being used in connection with the Government housing policy, for which £3,500,000 had been provided. He' assured the sawmillers that the Government would do everything it could to assist every industry in the Dominion, including the beech industry. There was no single problem in New Zealand. Every industry must fit in to bring about a system of order, but that could not be done in a moment.

"Criticise us if you like, but do not judge us too hurriedly," the. Minister added. "Give us time an-d" we will be able to iron oftt the difficulties in all industries."