IMPORTED TIMBER

Evening Star, Issue 14186, 11 October 1909, Page 6

IMPORTED TIMBER

THE TAX FALLS

ON THE COUNTRY CONSUMER.

Mr A. M. Hogg declined this morning to speak on the report of the Timber Commission as a whole beyond the remark that it covered a good deal of ground which could do little or no good so far as the general timber trade Ja> concerned. But he dealt with one or two points which he qonccived should have > the immediate attention of the Government. " The increase of duty,” he said, “ should be on smaller sizes, not on shorter lengths. By this means the timber imported into the country will bo such as may be resawn here, lor which the local mills will provide the labor, as against the sawing being done in America.’*

Mr Hogg next pointed out how the railage tax on imported timber falls exclusively upon, the country consumer. On all timber imported a one-and-a-haLf railage rat© is charged irrespective of weight. . Ho does not deny that the Government are entitled to raise revenue by a tax on Oregon, but feels strongly that tho revenue should be raised in equal proportions from each class of consumer, instead of being wholly dumped on tho country consumer. _ u While something may be said,” continued Mr Hogg, “ in favor of the one-and-a-half rate in the case of such heavy timbers as ironbark and bluegum, tho following instance shows how it works out in the case of Oregon, ;—-Railage is charged on 600 ft of red pine to a given point at the rate of 2s per 100, equal to 10s. For the same quantity of Oregon rate and a-half is charged, making 15s for 500 ft, notwithstanding the fact that, approximately, it takes 700 ft of Oregon to make a ton yreight, against 500 ft of red pine. That is to say, on a weight basis Oregon i ho>dd pay 7s 2d, instead of 15s. This means that, while the town consumer pays bis 2s duty at the port, the country consumer pays liis 2s plus a loading of anything from os to 7s lOd a hundred- Why ?houid the. farmer, the miner, and the "country worker be penalised as against the town consumer? If some of these anomalies were taken in hand, and espesca-ily the point of railage, which has bsen a erne one for many years, the Commission weald have served a useful purpose,” '