Grey River Argus and Blackball news PUBLISH DAILY.

Grey River Argus, 21 April 1909, Page 2

Grey River Argus and Blackball news PUBLISH DAILY.

WEDNESDAY, April 21st. 1909,

Among the many witnesses examined by the Timber Commission during their travels, probably no evidence taken affords so good an epitome of the case of our sawmillers as that of Mr Wm. Butler, a member of the firm of Butler; Bros, long and favorably known on this coast as sawmillers and contractors, before transferring iheir enterprise to the Auckland district. Perhaps no other witness has had a similarly wide range of experience in the timber trade. Theie is aotbin^ regarding- the industry in .New " Zealand that they are not acquainted with either by hard actual experience or otherwise. They, have ma3e it their, business to travel throoujrh the timber cutting districts of the Pacific States and British Columbia, and have seen all that was to be learned about .the timber industry in those regions. They can therefore speak authoritatively regarding the difference in the conditions that obtain in America as compared with New Zealand, while the veracity of the Brothers "is not to bp doubted, and of whom Mr W. Butltr is the moutnpiece.. To the members of the Commission whose knowledge of the industry is probably confined to what they may glean during the inquiry, Mr Butler's evidence will be found a convenient source^pf reference, inasmuch as it contains the most complete statement of facts regarding the timber industry on both sides of the Pacific It can be seen, after perusing his evidence, that it is an absolute impossibility for any New . 1 Zealand sawmiller to hope to compete with the sawmiller of America "or British Columbia. At every stage in the icdustrv the New Zealander is handicapped. All the natural as well as the "artificial conditioas favour tho American.. From the moment he enters the oush until he puts his timber aboard a vessel he has had a continuous advantage at every stage over- the New Zealand sawmiller. To begin with, the American has an immeasurably better bush. The trees grow closer together, are taller and straighter. The wood is lighter and more easily handled, while there seems to be practically no limit to the area of forest from which he can cut; so tliat when a mill-plant is put up it is practically a fixture. Hence millers find •iit to their interest to erect the -most up-to-date machinery available. They are seldom concerned about the difficulties of carriage, or the tax of roads and railways. Water ways abound in the shape of rivers, creeks, or inlets of the sea. All these immense advan* taj?es are beyond the reach of the sawmiller of New Zealand. But Ec is more heavily handicapped in various other directions. Besides being curtailed, to a niggardly extent in his bush lease, the New Zealander has .to I pay a white man's wage arid work the white man's hours; while the American i? free to employ the cheapest labour he can get." It may be black, brown, or yellow. He is mdepcn6cnt' of a living wage. The unfortunate alion is generally so glad to get work in the white man's country that he is usually paid very little.. The "free and independent" American is never too proud to take advantage of the necessities of the forlorn troops of Japs and Hindus who have dared the f ntas amongst the masterful Caucasians, and work their ten hours a day for what they can get — seldom more than five of six shillings a day. Even undtr such unfavourable conditions there would seem to be a superabundance of labour, as the manager of the Pacific Coast Lumber, Mill assured the Butler Bros, that he could command the services of 200 men in two hours. Then comes "the crowning advantage" oT cheap freight. The sawmiller of Puget Sound can ship his timber from the North Pacific to the South Pacific, and across the wide ocean at a far^ cheaper rate than it cai be shipped from Greymouth to Lyttelton. To think, besides all this, that we are actually subsidising the foreigners' boats, must be very annoying, j When one ponders over Mr Butler's evidence regarding the encrmous advantages that the American has over the ' New Zealander in the timber industry, it seems quite marvellous that we should have any timber industry at all. Our wages are so high, our cutting areas are so small, and the machinery, is by compulsion so inferior, that now that tue the big American lumber companies ha/c found the dominion to be a good dumping ground for their secondclass timber, it will not be long before they succeed in closing the majority of the mills in this country.The millers of the Pacific States will' do as all the" American manufacturers have been doing for the last thirty years, by selling their wares wherever they could find a 1 market at 30 and 40 per cent below the cost to the people of the country in winch they are manufactured. That is one of the features of a national protectionist polity, and from which the Americans are yet unable to emancipate themselves. It must be obvious from the formidable array of facts to be gleaned from Mr J^utlcr's evidence that the question the Commission and Parliament have to solve is as to whether the timber industry is worth preserving, because now that Oregon has found its way in Our industry js doomedj unless some remedy is appliecU The gain would be that perhaps the people would get their timber a little cheaper .(though that is by no means certain), and the timber merchants would make meney. The disadvantages to the peop?9 of the dominion of such a development would consist in the effacer merit of, an industry that finds fairly remunerative employment for thousands, and the thousands dependent upon them in both Islands alike, ■. all of whom would have to be absorb:ed in the rest of the community. It is for the representatives of, tne people tc say whether it is better to strain a point in favour t>f the many th"ous-V andt dependent upon the industry; or to consider the wishes of the tirii- : ber merchants, the builders and architects,' who are all for Xfregon. At present Oregon is master of the sit-' J -uation, and must remain so unless i r Parliament chooses to \ decide otherwise. As a general principal we are opposes to all coddling protectionist duties ; but there are exceptions to all rule.*, and as we know what the Americans would'do if they were in our place, we should .prevent Brother Jonathan Having all the best' of the Oregon deal. z ;'. "■■■'■'■ ■■'..

At .the liaquesf touching- tthe death' of Albert John Davfcs, who was ■killed in the State "'.Coal .Mine oh ' Saturday. 'the. Coroner.: Mr R. H. ■Turton. re; turned the following verdict" after--hearing- a good deal of evidence :— "That on Saturday. 17th dnst, "dn IJie; State wine; deceased wa? Accidentally killed, no blame being 1 latita'chable to any one."

It. is stated that a small police iol will- be erected in Greymouth, consequence of the closing of the iol at Hokitika. Fresh Arahura butter can be obined at Mcllroy's store, Mackay reet, at is ip er pound. Arrangeenits (have been made for suippwes i come to hand every second day. The ;horse Count Gorton, which fell i the Easter Handicap at the Tecent ultum'n, aneefting- of (the WesMla'nd aciag Club, has been destroyed. Apparently fre)trenchmenlt dn lihe 'ouTinst Department has already set i. It is understood that ten girl's i the Wellington office have received otice, or are about to receive of dismissal. The Inangahua Times says: — We «aye heard it hinted that nit is more han probable 1 that the Government all resume control. of ithe Greymouth larboux Board. "Exceedingly ipretlty," «is Uie verdict passed on Lake Mahinxjija on Saturday by the visiting Tiu.ber Dommatesioners. They were •jc'.ghtd with the approach t( > & c Iak(: - aiul hought it an ideal holiday resort A a. meeting of flhe Araihwra, Power md Mining Syndicate it was unaninously resolved to ask Mr H. L. M«hel to make one of a deputation to >roceed to -Wellington to interview he Prime Minister in reference to he long proposed waiter power reguartdons. •Mr A., Dillon 8011, engineer, has jeen. making a. thorough inspection )f the ctiannel and'the Hokdtii'ka rivir for the ipast few days preparatory 30 furnishing a report to the Hoki- . rika Hanbour Board with regard 10 jhe steps to ibe taken ito improve the entrance >lo the port. Ruth, daughter of .Mr and Mrs Fohn Palmer. • of Seddon street, Kumara, died on Sunday morning at 7 j'olcck. Deceased was a native of Kumara. and had attained her thirteenth year. She had been ill for sVxmiei iwieeks and lately alarmdngsymptoms ma<nrifested themselves until ithe end came at last. The following is a list of _ amounts won. and the names of winning owners at the/ Kumara Racing Club's rec•eifa ( nipe!tinlg.H-B. jGriffen l£'i"sS ; P Donnellan £55; G. Murfitit £55; W Eddy £50; W...Mclllnoy £A 5:, F. Me Gregor and J Brown £20.; Cameron and Andrews W Cocke^ A. Donnellan, H Hudd. T. Cameron. T. Staines A Graham and G. Sohaef £$. The track round Lake Kanieri towards the Dorothy Falls js now wcii advanced and some ardent cyclists last week rode mosit of the distance over the new tourist trace which if being constructed in 'hat io.-p.litv. The track is a very pretty bush glad" close to the lake side and will he a popular route for visiting holiday makers to Lake Kanieri. — Guardian. A prominent flaxmiller informs the Palmerston "Times" that he expects ateout twelve mills in the district will close within the nexft month or two, 'throwing- about 250 men out of employm € n.t; The low price of fibre is a contributing factor to this condition of affairs, although ft is quite usual for a nurnlber of mills to close at <ihis tfime of the year. The death took place on Monday of Mr Frank Schul/tz. a resident of the Westland district for many years-. The deceased was a well-known musician and years ago took a keen interest in local musical circles. For some years he was engaged as attendant at Sea View Mental Hospital and latterly had been living near Rimu. Deceased was a native of Germany and had attained the ripe age of 86 years. At the ibegiimning of last week a request was made to Mr Seddon, M.P. that he should endeavour to stay the publication of the water-power regu lations to enable further representations to be made to the" Government on the matter. Mr Seddon complied with the request and it Js understood that the regulations will not be published for the present, and further representations are being made on the matter. Last evening Hon. A. R. Guinness and His Worship the Mayor met dhc Members of Parliament # connected with the comimi'ssion and explained the position of Itihe rtiown of Greyjnouth in reg-ard to the Native [oases. They urged on the members | to support a proposal for a 66 years' lease instead of ait present the 21 rears' lease. The members gave a most' attentive hearing ito ithe •deg>utaidon. and promised ito consider ftihalt they tod stated. With reference to the (progress of thes work at the Otjra tunnel 'Mr Murdock' McLean states' itihalt ithe tunnel is in at present a distance of thirtyseven chains. This^does not mean that the work is completed thaft" distance but alludes to the dinitial boring technically known as the "heading." The contractors find the country very favourable for tunnellinig through', it consisting iof hard rooky formataon, and taking- operations are an indncaiition, Mr M'Lean anticipates no unusual difficulties as the work proceeds The Government (have issued a gazette notice in •connection with the shooting season for imported and native game. The notice proclaims thaltj |t|he |folHowiinig :— Jnativp game pukeko, grey duck, spoonbill duck, and black swan, may be killed from May Ist to July 31st, both days inclusive. The schedule to the prodamatfloni .sells, out. tihajt) (areas wherein impojited amd native game shall" not be killed include all that area within one mile on each siae of West Coast (Chmstehurch-Hokiy-tika) road from . Springfield to-Dill-mansitown. A mild sort of timber war is at preseniji dn operation near Ohakune 1 , on ithe Maiqi Trunk Line. The fight seems to be between the Timber Associatioji and some individual millers and timber now is cheaper than it has been, for years. Ordinary rimu js selling for 7s per 100 feet, rustic ait OS and there have been corresponding reductions in all the goods. M is -considered, that --a truce between the contending parties will be called by the end of the month, but. unfinl '.hen timber is being sold at a considerable loss to the miller. Ail the annual meeting of the.Trinity Institute held on .Monday evening the report was read and adopted and showed a,. very satisfactory (position. The following officers were elected:— Patron, Yen. Archdeacon York; President, Mr L. F. de Berry, - M.A; Vice-presidents. Rev. T. F. Taylor, Dr C. Morioe, Messrs G. W. Samipson E. J. Jenkins," A. G. Kemp. E J Thorn as, W Cochrane; A.. Vickerman, J. Ferguson T. E. Coates, A. E. Kilgour T . Middlcfen; Secretary. Mr A. E. Leggett; Treasurer, Mr H. Miich*el; Cqmmittee: Messns F. Smith, R. Jeilie. H. Herries, W. R Flinfoff, J. Petrie F. B Lawn, G. Sweetman, B. Smithers. It was decided to open ihe session next Monday. To-day is the last day for receiving nominations for the office of s Mayo.r and Councillors. So far eight gentlemen have . seat ija their nominations for councillors, and Mr A.- Russell has nominated for Mayor. It' may be stated that Mr Russell intends io seek cfection as Mayor only, and will not notn'tnaCc as a coaucill^r. The election for -Mayor promdises" ito be 3 very keen contest. Before the election tihe aspirants will address the electors. Mr Lynch ■will lead of. on Friday evening, and Mr Russell and several councillors on Monday evening, and Mr Coates and Cthcr cotvncillors on Tuesday evening. lw election will take place, on Wedne* dav 2SMI ins't. The following resolution was passed by the Otago Trades and Labour Council at a meeting held last week: "Thaj his council directs attention to ithe cablegram appearing in the daily .papers to the effect thas a ganibler, under the name of spccula'kion, maide in one. .-.day's deal in wheat and aeiiloras rthe fact.fohalt .he commercial- system of trading makes it possible for this to be done, more Especially when it is gambling for Ihe food of the people, and thus increasing its cost ; the ; council 'further desires to point out thait the same specu lations take place in our own dominion, wifch. the same results., and ux^es the workers to use every endeavour to .put. >a stop to this pernicious sys-te-m. ,t - .• . ■;..-•'.'_ The Hpkitiika Guardian, in referring to. ithe visit of members of the Thnber Commission suggests that the local bodies, in. 'conjunction wMih the Member; for the: District, might arra^ee for a parliam>entjary party to visit South .Westland. at teh e first favourable opportunity. It would be a splendid advertisement for ithe glac- i iear country to itaike the individual members there and the ideamiglhtbe taiken wp (with every advantage;. The WesF Ccaft is 'saieeidiily losing its isolaiiion.■'.-. mils' . inanie and fame are | spreadingjflnd with tthe advent of the East' and *Hfes*- 'Coast railway, the last: ground "ofßonxplainit, at aJI events as far as lthcM n(>li^ ier H P ar t of Westland is conceripi will disappear.

and^ varied stock to select froS^ It is T«ponted that .the Grey Rail, way st^taon was broken into o n Mondey «vtensn,g or Tutesdiay morningand the property of the Pexry Biorama Company was considerably ■damaged. The matter is. we believe in ithe hands of the police. At the Maigistrate's Couit yesterday before Mr Tiurton. S.M. J. Fitzgerald was charged with false pretences in passing counterfeit coins. After hearing evidence <the case was dis» missed. A parent was fined ?s 6d and costs 7s 1 for mot sending her child to school regularly. John Gcugh was fined 15s and costs for being on licensed ipremases during the currency oFa prohibition order. The same accused was fin«d £i on the absene la«. guage chaTge and £2 for refusdnsr *'o quit licensed premiises. A fortnight wajs allowed in which to pay the fines. Two prohibited persons were fined £2 and costs for being on licensed iDremises. We can help you to dress better for less money by purchasing your draiuerv at Thomas and Mcßcath's. Beautiful tailor-made costumes from cut. stylo and ' finish fihe very best. Tailor made suits cut and finished on "the premises by expert v r in experienced cutter. Fk. and tweeds goiaranteed *he very beet'. — Advt 1 . The funeral of the late Albeit Davis took place yesterday, and was very largely aittended. deceased being held in hdigih Tespec-t ' and esteem. It ds such sad circumstances as these that compel us to draw the • attention oi •the Railway Department to the urgent necessity of putting in a siding at Karoro. Yesterday,' .the- people had. to scramble over cowcatchers and baiibed-AviiTe fences, whilst it was anytliing but .pleasant .to the .bereaved relatives. We 'trust that the proper authorities will see that such a convenience is provided wihhout delay. w Let us increase your earnings by purchasing your drapery at Thomas and Mcßeaith's. We hold the largest stocks on the Coast of the best and cheapest drapery. You ca» save money by purchasing from us. A trial will convince, is in the £ discount for cash.— Adwt. The sitjfcings of the Timber Commission, were brought to a close an five o'clock yesterday evening-, and a very valuable lot of information has been supplied. The members took occasion tb express Vtheir ©k&suarc at a to Greymouth, and one member sstiated that he wished Ito be a member of every commission that visited ■ Greymouth.- The pleasure, we are' glad to state is -not aU. on one side as the members of the commission have impressed all toy the earnest interest they took' in the proceedings. During ithc time"" not occupied with the enquiry the members were ea&er in ftheir desire Ito' ffaiin^full knowledge •of the district. The Timber Commission have collected infonmatdion that wall prove of value to the Dominion, and it is to be hoped the timber industry of the Coaslt will be' prov •tected. The Commission leave this^ inominjr for Reef ton. Our readers are- reminded that Perry's Eleotric Biorama Cofapany shoiw in the Theatre Royal Reef ton' nest Thursday and Friday nighlts. The.programme ds a splendid on e in-' eluding s U oh star films as "Held f«r Ransom" a (pictorial dramatisation of •kugene Phillips famous drama "The Black Princess" a thrilling Indn'an drama abounding -with startling situafoion'S'. "Poverty and Compassioa" •is a pathetiic picture depicting the life of the poor. The humourous ajortion of the .programme has no* been negledied and includes "Women Chaffeurs" Funny Gueslts" "Aunt Sally's ou%ing" "Closing titae is 12 o'clock" "Bathing" -etc. The Sisters Brady, vocalists of great favour will also be heard in new duets, and songs illustrated with coloured lantern slides. -The management* have decided to charge only on© price, one shilling &_ all patts. children half price, so a packed house is assured. Advt Pallid, thin and passing weak, Shivering >"n the cold wind bleak.-^s.^ Cougrhijijr till ihe scarce can speak. This tis man without it I Laughing at eaoh cougih and cold. What is this that make's him bold? Stuff that's wosth its weight in gold - Woods' Peppermint Cure — doit doubt" it.

To save 10 per cent is a big thing these hard time. This can be done by purchasinig .all your drapery, clothing', furnishing, millmery and dresses af Thomas and Mcßeatlh's. We faave secured all our winter stock at bed rock prices from the manufacturers and can thus afford to give our patrons the advantage of our exceptional value. — Advt. Everything that's novel in this season's acillinery is displayed in C. Smith's showroom now. There's an almost endless variety of models and umtninmed shapes that prove most distracting to the visitor. Why not call round and see these goods to-day. The beoomingness, and mod crate price combined ,-in every hat will "tttake the showing interesting to you. C. Smith Ltd.. "Tht Reliable Drapers."—Advt. The busiest drapery warehouse in Greymouth. Prices are out on everything. The tables and shelves are full of lovely goods for the winter trade. Our warehouse -is worth coming- miles t« gee and quality for quality price for price, assortment for assortment, we conquer' competition on every count.Have you seen our new linoleums and floorcloths tho prices start 2s 6d for two yards wide W, McKay and Son. The Drapers. — Adyt. Don't forget that the surest buying ihime is Avhen the stocks are full. Our winter shipments have arrived and . these goods show ono of our greatest achievements. The value of the stock, the reputation of the firm, the undeniable tiuality and freshness of .the .goods. Indies stylish long coats 22s 6d 25s 6d, 30s, 355. Ladies navy cloth long coats up-to-date 355, 47s 6d at Wm. McKay and Son the leadilng dra-petrs.— Adwt. Three useful handbooks 1 Hockey and how to play it. od each Dostacre 2d extra: "Modern Rugby Football is 3d each, postage 3d extra; Official Croquet Guide" 6d each, postage 2d extra. Procurable at B. Dixon's, book seller anu stationer. Tainui Street. Next door ',?-the Public Trust Office. Eastertime is nigh at hand. Why not send an Easter greeting rto your friends. Call and see lihe new lines in Easter post cards at B. Dixon s bobkselkir and stationer, Tainui street next door t () the Public Trust OHiccAdvt. • THE SMOKER'S FRIEND is T, H. Garth. At his shop on Mawhera f Quay, 1.0 has displayed in the window pipes by the thousand, all kinds, an shape*, all makes. Bettor value cannot bo had in the Dominion. r<roni •IXPiiNCF, to TWO SHILLINGS and .IKFENCE. Inspection invited— Advt.