IMPORTED TIMBER

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 October 1930, Page 3

IMPORTED TIMBER

AUCKLAND COMMENTS. [special to “stab.”] AUCKLAND, October 1. The plea for a bau on foreign timber has been heard again, this week, since the arrival of the Golden Cloud from Los Angeles, with 1,500,000 feet of Oregon pine and redwood. It is asserted that this one shipment will deprive 45 men of a year's work. Many employers and employees in the timber industry view with disapproval the continued flooding of the New Zealand markets with sawn timber of foreign origin, but merchants who are importing, declare that they have to carry stocks of Oregon and redwood, because builders demand it, and architects show a preference for it for certain classes of work. In addition, they argue that their importations are necessary to keep the prices of local woods at a reasonable level. It was thought that the recent increases in duties on timber from overseas would place a decided check on importations and assist to revive the timber industry which has gone from bad to worse iu recent years, but it is yet early io judge just what the effect of the revised tariff will be. Then again some merchants are bound to continue importing under contracis which do not expire until the end of the present year. Naturally, one of those most active opposed to the importation of timber is the Secretary of the Auckland Timber Workers’ Union, Mr E. J. Phelan. Discussing the state of the timber industry, Mr Phelan said the Government was giving bonuses to vessels arriving with foreign woods, in the shape of a drawback on customs duties amounting to something in tho vicinity of £75,000 a year. That was being done to the detriment of local timber. It took 30 men to produce a million feet of timber locally a year, and thus it would be seen that the Golden Cloud’s shipment deprived 45 men of 12 months’ employment. The loss to the industry and tho country was quite apart from handling and railway freights. Until the Government woke up and prohibited the importation of sawn timber, so long would the machinery in New Zealand's timber mills be depreciating. Mr Phelan said that if timber must be imported, and he frankly admitted that a. certain amount was required, then it should be brought into the country in bulk. If that were done, it could bo cut to size by Now Zealand workmen and positions would be given to a considerable number who wore; now walking the stieets. The effect <>f recent, increases in duties on timber appeared to have been overcome by foreign Governments making compassionate allowances t.o exporters, so far as shipping and freights were concerned. Seeing that countries like America and Canada placed restriction on New Zealand butter and other exports, the Dominion would lie justified in placing a ban on their timber entirely. Tho other point of view was expressed by a consignee of some of the timber which arrived by the Golden Cloud. He said that all of his shipment. was ordered before the extra duty was recently placed on foreign timber. In tho case of redwood, many firms had entered into contracts to take supplies until the end of the present year in monthly shipments. Seeing that the duty had been raised from 7/6 to 9/6 per 100 ft, when tho Redwood Export Company of America came to look round for orders in the New Year, it would find in all probability that they would not be so easy to find. If it were not for the importation of redwood, prices for New Zealand timber would soar to such heights that it would not be economic, to use it. Totara was in limited supply, and he doubted if sufficient could lie supplied to meet the wants of the joinery and building trades. In addition three-quarter redwood was still in competition with local rimu, and matai. “We are linked up with the local timber industry and would sooner see no importations of foreign timber, but so long as builders and architects call for it, we have to keep it in stock,” ho added. “If the matter were left to the merchants it is probable that they would go in more for local timbers and induce the builders to use them.” COAL IMPORTATIONS. NOT FOR RAILWAY DEPT. [special to “stab.”] WELLINGTON, October 1. Replying to a. question by Mr J. O’Brien, in the House, to-day, as to tho proven; ion of importation of Australian coal, Mr Ransom said that under the terms of lhe tariff agreement between New Zealand and Australia, duty on Australian coal could not be imposed unless by mutual agreement, between the Commonwealth and the Dominion, or until after the expiry of six months’ notice to the Commonwealth.

The question of the importation of coal was at present receiving careful consideration of the Government, said Mr Ransom, in answer to Mr H. E. Holland. So far as railway orders are concerned, none is being placed overseas. The Railways Department is in no way responsible for any importation of coal that is taking place. With regard to the reduction of railway orders, to New Zealand mines, the position is that v,;ith the substantial reduction that has recently been made in train services, the Department’s rate of consumption of coal lias been materially reduced. Moreover, necessity for reducing stocks has also affected the Department’s orders in this connection. It will be realised of course, that it is not justifiable for the Department to carry greater stocks of coal than are reasonably necessary. In deference to representations which had been made to the Government, however, it has been arranged for the rate of reduction of railway stocks to be eased so as to assist local mines, and orders have already been increased as much as possible in pursuance of that policy.

Further, in reply to Mr H. E. Holland, Mr Murdoch (Minister of Mines) said that the whole question of the coal mining industry was at present under consideration by the Government. Consultations had been held .with ,the Minister of Railways, who states that the Railway Department

has no orders placed for Newcastle coal, and at present is not contemplating placing any such orders. MILLERTON MINE In (he House of Representatives yesterday, Mr. H. E. Holland asked tho Minister of Mines whether anything can be done at once by his Department to relieve the position at Millerton where the mine has only worked 34 days out of a possible 95 and where there has been no work whatever for the last, ten days. The Minister of Mines (Mi - . Murdoch) regretted it was impossible at the moment to find immediate relief for the miners. The difficulty was that the coal was bunker coal. However, it. was proposed to get in touch with the Westport Coal Company and discuss with them the possibility of installing a briquette plant or otherwise providing for the men at the mine.