The Hawkes Bay Herald WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1898. WHITE PINE EXPORT.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 11097, 14 December 1898, Page 2

The Hawkes Bay Herald WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1898. WHITE PINE EXPORT.

"When Mr Cadman, as Minister of Bail ways, was recently interviewed by a deputation of sawmillers with reference to the rates of railway carriage on white pine timber, he promised that he would visit the Bush and look into the matter for himself. He has not yet done so. When the Premier passed through Napier the other day, on his way north, his stay was bo short that lie could not be interviewed. But we understand that he will return this way, and if so steps should be arranged for a meeting with him, The matter is one of great importance, not only to the Bush districts, out to Napier as a port. The question resolves itßelf into whether what is now virtually a waste product, which has to be burned as a cumberer of the ground, shall be profitably utilised and converted into an item of national wealth, employing much and. constant labor all the year round in the process. At the present rates of carriage on the railways this is impossible. This is not a matter of theory, but haa been proved iv practice, and the mills which have been cutting white pine for export are closing down as they complete their contracts. There is practically an unlimited export market for the timber at a certain price, but not a fraction more than that price can be obtained, and if more is asked other timbers get the preference, It costs so much to cut the timber, so much j for railage, and so much for freight, and when these items are added together they are found to leave no margin of profit to the most favorably situated mills, and to involve a loss to others. But a comparatively slight reduction in the charges would leave such a margin of profit as would content the sawmillers, because they would be utilising what now is a nuisance to them, and they would have no slack times, as the pine could always be cut if other timber was not in demand, Mr Cadman told the deputation which laid these facts before him that the Railway Department based its charges on the weight and value of goods carried. Bearing that in mind, Mr W. L, Luxford weighed certain classes o goods, and in a recent letter to the "Bush Advocate" he gives the results. It costs 18s 4d per ton to send white pine timber to Napier, and the value is £2 per ton. But firewood is carried at 5s per ton. Surely if it pays to carry firewood at that rate it would pay to carry white pine. It may be argued that firewood is of euch low value that if a higher rate were charged it would not be carried at all. But exactly the same argument applies to white pine, for the trade will be killed if the present charges are continued. An even more telling example is afforded by the rates on grain. "Wheat is worth about £8 per ton, or four times as much as white pine, and much greater care has to be taken of it, as it must be protected from the weather. But a ton of wheat can be sent from Danevirke to Napier for 10s 9d. White pine would yield a profit at the rates charged on grain. Butter is worth about £84 per ton, and specially insulated cars have to be provided, but a ton of butter can be sent from Danevirke to Napier for 245, or a little more than is charged for a ton of white pine, "Wool, worth about £56 per ton, and which has also to be protected against the weather, is carried the same distance for 29s 3d. Lastly, lime is carried for nothing at all. Mr Luxford contends that it would pay the country if white pine were put on the same footing as lime, and carried free. We cannot quite go so far as that. That one absurdity has been perpetrated in :he interests of a few owners of limekilns is no reason why a similar piece of folly should be condoned in the interests of the owners of white pine lands. But unquestionably he does make out a strong case for a very material reduction in the charges on pine.