THE GREY BAR

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 March 1930, Page 6

THE GREY BAR

SAWMILLERS’ RESOLUTION At a meeting-of the executive of the West Coast Sawmillers’ Co-operative Company yesterday, serious concern was expressed at the holding up of rhe limber export owing to the condition of the Grey bar, and a resolution was passed calling on the Harbour Board to take all practicable steps to remedy the position. The engaged in the Australian trade are only loading to onethird of their capacity, and the timber for export is accumulating much more rapidly than it la being moved, Tho position is getting worse rather than better, owing to the continued dry weather. Temporary expedients to improve the depth have been put forward, and it is thought that ex : penditure even if only of an experimental nature would be fully justified. A director of the Sawmillers’ Cooperative Company stated yesterday that the usual slackness of trade which affects the sawmilling industry on the West, Coast at the present season is this year more pronounced than usual. Several mills are closed for the time being, but the position is no worse than in the North Island, where the competition of imported timbers in the main cities is more felt than in Christchurch. The cost of transport from Lyttelton is some protection, which is t not afforded in the other main ports, where timber can be landed right in the city. Several causes are contributing to the present position, among them being the usual seasonal slackness, the high interest rates ruling, and the slowing down of the activities of the Government Advances Department. He expressed the opinion that the chief cause is excessive and needless importations of foreign timber. Certain importations are necessary for constructional purposes, but a large quantity of Oregon is brought into the country, sold at prices which make, the competition of rimu impossible, and put to uses for which our own timber is entirely suitable. This has long been a sore point with the industry, more especially when it is remembered that this Oregon timber is imported in ships subsidised by foreign Governments, which charge practically the same freight from the Pacific Coast to Wellington as is charged for transport from Greymouth to Wellington. These vessels are of great carrying capacity, and a load of four million feet wili displace enough locallyproduced timber to keep two goodsized mills in work for a year, supporting fifty workers and their dependents. It was stated in conclusion that the crying need of the milling industry at the moment is an improvement to the Grey bar, something to be done now, and rot fifty years hence. Disappointment was expressed that the Harbour Board appears unable to put forward any scheme for immediate improvement that would have even a remote chance of success. It would be encouraging to know that some attempt was being made to improve tho position, whether success followed or hot.