COAST TIMBER

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 December 1946, Page 6

COAST TIMBER

PORT OF SHIPMENT MOVE TO TAKE DEFINITE - STAND CONFERENCE TO-MORROW “There is a move on foot locally to take a definite stand on this matter of the shipment of West Coast timber from Lyttelton,”' said M.r. H. Herring, speaking at last evening’s meeting of the Greymeuth Residents’ and Ratepayers’ Association. He advocated that the association should give any such proposal its full support. “I am satisfied,” he added, “that the people of Greymouth, and espec-. ially the business people, do not know what the wharf means to the town.” Mr. Herring recalled how he had brought the matter to the notice of the Greymouth Borough Council when the first consignment to Lyttelton had been made four or five years ago. Since then the matter had drifted along with a few individual protests, but no concerted action. “It strikes me that while we are living in a democratic country, the transport authorities in Australia and New Zealand are taking no cognisance of any complaint brought up in a democratic way and will respond only to direct action,” he declared.

, trrect on uocai oubmcoa. ’ “This depot in Christchurch might release railway trucks, but it will not add anything to the pay envelopes of the waterside workers or do local business any good,” said the chairman, Mr. N. Shallcrass. Mr. Herring, continuing, stated that the Timber Controller was sympathetic to Greymouth’s position, but had pointed out that the control of the timber ships was in the hands ol the transport authorities in Australia. . , “The sawmiller -does not care personally whether his output goes to Lyttelton or anywhere else,” added Mr. Herring. “The other man pays the extra freight charges. The sawmiller, however, is behind the protests and what he should say now is that he will not send any of his timber for loading at Lyttelton. • Even the Sydney merchants, declared the speaker, were quite satisfied with the previous system of loading at Greymouth. . Loss of Thousands of Pounds. “The town should rear up and say ‘finish!’” declared the chairman. “Speaking from my own experience, I know the difference between a bad week and a good week on the wharf,” he added. n „ “Thousands and thousands of pounds must have been taken away from this town by these Lyttelton shipments,” remarked Mr.. W. Parkinson. , „ It was decided to support any efforts to alter the present system and the chairman and Mr. Herring were appointed to represent the association at a conference to be held at Greymouth to-morrow.

SAWMILLERS’ATTITUDE NOT DISCLOSED The report ot Mr. Herring’s remarks were referred to the president of the West Coast Sawmillers’ Association, Mr. A. L. McKay, this morning, but he declined to make any comment on the action the association proposed to take. Mr. McKay did, however, state that a meeting of the executive committee of the association yesterday afternoon discussed the shipping of West Coast timber from Lyttelton and adopted a recommendation which will have to be approved by members of the association. He. declined to divulge the text of the recommendation, saying that a full statement would be made at the combined conference to be held to-mor-row morning. Mr. McKay and Mr. G. Blair have been appointed to represent the association at the conference.

■ The chairman, Cr. J. W. Hannan, was this morning appointed to represent the Grey County Council at the conference to be held to-morrow morning to discuss the shipment of West Coast timber from Lyttelton.