TIMBER SITUATION

Grey River Argus, 23 July 1926, Page 5

TIMBER SITUATION

SYMPATHY OF COUNCIL Resolution Passed. The present situation in regard t« the timber industry was referred to bv the Mayor, Mr W. 11. Parfitt, at the meeting of the Borough Council last .evening. He moved “That the Council joins with all those directly interposted in the sawmilling industry .in drawing attention to the Government to the present serious condition of that •industry on the. West Coast ami requesting that steps be taken with a view of effecting an improvement. ” There were about 82 million feet of timber imported into the country last year and about 1500 timber workers out of employment in New Zealand. It was only right that a resolution should be taken. He would like to see copies sent to the member of the district and to Mr Holland. v Reference to the dumping of timbei in the country was made by Councillor O’Brien. There was a considcrabl ■ amount of dumping, said. He did ;not know how they managed it but ii was a fact that timber could bo brought from the Baltic to Wellington cheaper than from Britain to Wellington and even cheaper than from Wellington to Greymouth. Timber was being brought in from the Baltic and Japan to the detriment of the local industry. By bringing in timber from Japan the borer was beings encouraged.

The industry in New Zealand was in a parlous condition at present, continued Mr O’Brien, especially the small timber millers and those on the West Coast. The best thing for the Council to do was to send a resolution through as strong as possible. Cr Dougan thought it was the duty of the Council to back up the resoluitions made in the matter. As to the actual method to be adopted whereby the difficulty could be overcome, that would have to be left to the authorities. They should certainly break the dumping. There must be some way to do it. America could dump timber, but it would not allow timber to go into the States. The motion was carried.