TIMBER MERCHANTS PROTEST

Evening Star, Issue 23324, 21 July 1939, Page 14

TIMBER MERCHANTS PROTEST

AMENDMENT OF HOUSING SPECIFICATIONS URGED i Per United Press Association.j GREVMOUTH, July 20! A representative meeting or West Coast sawmillers and North Canterbury timber merchants, held at Greymouth, decided to despatch the following telegram to the Minister of Housing and the Acting-Commissioner of State Forests :—- “ A joint conference of sawmillers and timber merchants, held to-day, expressed keen disappointment at the result of the representations contained in a telegram of June 28; The recent decision of the Government for the use of only kiln-dried dressing A rimu in lieu of heart timber lias failed to solve the problem of tbe unbalanced utilisation of existing stocks and future production. The conference views tbe position with alarm and urges as the only solution that the Housing Department and State Advances specifications be amended to permit of the use of seasoned air dried dressing A, reduced to an approved moisture content consistent with local conditions, as well as kiln-dried timber for flooring and weather boards on the East Coast of the South Island. It is imperative that fin immediate decision be made, otherwise the mills must close down on one day each week to adjust stocks restricted to the consumption of dressing A.’’