GISBORNE WANTS EVERY STICK OF TIMBER AVAILABLE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22817, 11 December 1948, Page 4

GISBORNE WANTS EVERY STICK OF TIMBER AVAILABLE

BUILDER’S PROTEST

“The reported evidence submitted to the No. 1 Transport Licensing Authority at Thursday's sitting by local timber milling interests, in opposition to any applicants seeking to bring timber into this district from outside, would tend to cause in the minds of the public, and particularly those who have been waiting for a long lime to build their own homes, an impression that there was n plentiful supply of timber in this district," states a prominent local builder.

“Such on impression is an entirely mistaken one judged by the result of builders’ inquiries tor timber from local milling firms,” he continued.

“Had it not been for the supplies of timber brought into the district from outside, and still required to be brought in from outside, many houses recently erected still would be on the waiting list.

“Today the building industry is confronted with such a demand for house building, both private and _ State, that it could not be completed with 50 times times the supply of timber at present available locally from local mills,” he said.

“Whether the position will rectify itself in 12 months, as stated by Mr. Taylor, remains to be seen. But in the meantime, and not waiting for 12 months, the Gisborne district can do with every stick of timber it can get from outside its district to supplement the present meagre supplies available here.

“In face of the evidence supplied by the milling interests it would appear that they were more concerned with creating a future monopoly than assisting in the much-needed immediate erection of dozens of houses for those wanting them.”