SOUTH OTAGO SAWMILLERS' GRIEVANCES

Evening Star, Issue 15480, 30 April 1914, Page 8

SOUTH OTAGO SAWMILLERS' GRIEVANCES

♦ While the Minister of Railways was inspecting the Catlin Railway yesterday he was waited on at the Caberfeidh station liy a representative deputation of local saw-millers, on whose behalf Air Leggatfc called.the Minister's attention to the difference in freight on timber railed from Invercargill to Dunedin and from Houipapa to Dunedin. The distance from Riverton was 166 miles, and from Houipapa 78 mik6," yet the rate in both cases was 2s 9d per 100 ft. The deputation thought tbey should he put upon a, fairer footing. What he had said applied to the whole of Southland, and millers there could put timber into Dunedin at 5d less than could be done from Houipapa. Mr Malcolm, M.P., said that the mem !>ers of the deputation had convinced him that their request was a reasonable one. The Minister: What is it? Mr Malcolm: That there should be a uniform tariff .it a moderate rate. The Minister: That it should be reduced?

Mr Malcolm: N'o, they are not askinj. that, but they think that there should lx a uniform '.arid:' Continuing, he said thai Southland was able to go into the market and compete unfairly with those men win had come in and established the industry and paid as much as £5 an acre for milling rights, and were seveiely handicapped. There were 13 mills in the district, which turned out 65,000 ft of timber daily. There were 260 meii employed, and it was estimated that the concessions given the Southlanders meant £B,OOO to £IO,OOO a year—that was equal to 22s a truck —and it was a very serious matter. It was understood that they could not expect the Minister to -say at once that equality would be established between the two districts. They knew that the general manager was revising the-tariff; and they hoped that this would be one of the alterations made by him.

A member of the deputation pointed out that the timber in Southland was produced much cheaper than the timber in Catlins.

The Minister : How many saw-mills are there in Southland?

Mr Legatt: Fiftv odd. Mr Malcolm: And about 20 in Ota go that send their timber to Dunedin. The Minister said that this matter had been brought under his notice several times since he had taken office. The whole question of timber rates would receive very careful attention by the department and by himself when the tariff was being revised. It was a matter of great concern to them to get there anomalies removed or

amended. He was going to Riverlon, and the people there would put their views before him. He ceroid not give any decision until he had heard the other side. The other side might have very good

reasons why their Tates should be maintained. He could assure them that the matter would receive- very careful attention. Mr Malcolm asked if as great expedition as possible would be exercised in having the tariff revised. The Minister replied that he could not promise' when ihe revition would be completed, and it would not be published piecemeal, but as a whole. He could not even give any idea when the revision would be completed.