COAST TIMBER

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 December 1946, Page 8

COAST TIMBER

DEPOT AT CHRISTCHURCH SCHEME AROUSES SERIOUS CONCERN PROTEST MEETING PROPOSED “This may be the thin edge of the wedge and the result may be that all West Coast timber will be shipped through Lyttelton, not only to Australia, but to the North Island.” This statement by Mr J, Saunders summed up the attitude of members of the Westland Progress League at their meeting last evening, to a report that a depot was being prepared in Christchurch at which West Coast timber would be stored prior to being shipped from Lyttelton.

For many months now the Progress League, in association with other local organisations, has been opposing the Lyttelton shipment of -West Coast timber without achieving any degree of success, the Government indicating that the arranging of the shipping schedules was beyond its control.

Committee’s Alarm.

The latest move is the scheme brought to light by the forestry committee, which presented the following resolution to last evening’s meeting of the council of the league:— “This committee views with alarm the further proposal being mooted for the leading of West Coast timbers for Australia at Lyttelton, this being the railing of sawn timbei’ from the Coast to Christchurch or Lyttelton to a depot to be established there, where the timber will be unloaded and stacked awaiting shipment from Lyttelton. It is admitted that under this method the present, trouble of truck shortage will be slightly eased, but on the other hand the labour entailed in discharging at the depot and then reloading when a vessel is placed, is considered to be unwarranted seeing that the timber could be taken on board at Greymouth without these two additional handlings, as well as having the heavy freight charges to the East Coast.” ’ . Proposing also that the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) should be acquainted with the regarding the loading of the Pamir at Lyttelton, the committee submitted the. following statement:— . “Instructions were given m October last to the sawmillers to get then* timber ready for this barque which was to arrive at Lyttelton on October 14 After the millers had commenced cutting for the Pamir- further information came to hand that the vessel was delayed in leaving Wellington, and would reach Lyttelton round about November 6. She eventually reached Lyttelton on November . West Coast rimu totalling about 550,000 feet has been cut and railed to Lyttelton since November a ana even at to-day’s date the barque has not yet completed her loading of rimu and pinus insignis. u “In the meantime the Gabriella was scheduled to load at Greymouth for the North Island, but on account of truck shortage (trucks being held under lead for the Pamir), it was found impossible to load the Gabiiella with timber, and that trip had to be cancelled. d “The committee feels that a very '-rove injustice is being done to the watersiders, and, in fact, the whole of the West Coast, by continuing the method of loading away from the natural outlet —an outlet that m the past has proved its success by the large cargoes of timber comprising many millions of loot that have been sent away without trouble. This matter is a very serious one for the district and the committee recommends the council to take every possible step to see that the Lyttelton loading of our timbers lor Australia should cease and a return to loading at Greymouth be enforced.’’ “Serious Matter. “This is a very serious matter, said Mr. G. R. Harker, who successfully moved the adoption of the committee’s recommendation. “It is a matter of concern not only lor the waterside workers, but for the whole town. When I think of the which years ago took millions of feet of timber from Greymouth to Australia, the present method of railing the material to Lyttelton seems to be ridiculous.” he added. “Tins has been going on lor yeais, <--aid Mr. Saunders, “but the establishment of a depot is alarming. He added that 300,000 feet of timber was to be railed to Christcthurch this month., and a similar amount next “Some of the red pine which has been waiting for shipment is becoming spotted now,” said Mr. J. S. Robertson.

He added that the .Government had commandeered the yards of two Christchurch timber companies for their purpose of establishing a depot for Coast timbei. Another vessel was due to load timber for Australia before Christmas, and the suggestion was that this timber be sent from the West Coast for storage at Christchurch until the ship arrived.

“The Forestry Department is behind the scheme,” he replied to a question. “I have had some goes over the telephone about it. . Mr. Robertson, in conclusion, stated that the Sawmillers Association would discuss the matter at a meeting to-day. M The resolution framed by Mi. Harker, and adopted unanimously, proposed that the Mayor (Mr. KA. Kitchingham) be requested call a conference of two re Py eser^t? r , fp „’ ; ’ each from the league, the Wateisiders’ Union, the West Coast Sawmillers’ Association, the J Workers’ Union, the Chamber of Commerce, the Greymouth Borough Council, the Harbour Board, Grey and Westland County Councils, and women’s organisations on in y morning at 10.30 o’clock, with a to bringing the full weight of the district before the Government to ~ that all .further timber exports im Australia, from the West Coast, g through the port of Greymouth, ana not through Lyttelton. It was decided to forward c p of the committee’s resolution to tne Prime Minister, the Transport (Mr. O’Brien), the Minister of Supply (Mr. Sullwan), the Timber Controller, the West C Sawmillers’ Association, and Waterside Workers’ Union. Messrs. Robertson and Bound were appointed to represent tn league at the conference.