THE TIMBER TRADE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 1 May 1922, Page 4

THE TIMBER TRADE.

PRICE REDUCTIONS.

GREYMOUTH, April 27

I Interviewed to-day in reference to the , timber rate war, a leading representa- ' +h' e + *?, 6 Poast, t^ber industry stated that following the recent decontrol of timber prices by the Board of Trade the local sawmulers had determined to try to meet competition in Canterbury by a rearrangement of their prices. It had been decided that from June 1 rknu timber shall be classified into three different grades apart from heart classes. Tne price of "0.b." is to be ±ds od f.0.b., being a reduction on the present rate of 2s 6d- an intermediate class, fit for dressing," is priced at 19s and clean "free from faults" is to be charged at 22s 6d. These alterations mean a reduction of Is or more per 100 teet. It is claimed that the reduction is not justified by the present cost of production, but it is anticipated that some curtailment in this direction may take place before long, and in the meantime the West Coast trade in Canterawaitmg shipment. The loading of the reduction in price is effected ■The handicap of the AVest Coast millers as compared with those on the Worth Island Main Trunk or in Southland, is very pronounced, when the respective charges for getting the product i J?l market are examined. Mills in the Ohakune district pay 4s 8d for having i their timber conveyed to Wellington trom the mill siding, while West Coast timber1 costs on an average at least 9s i to deliver from the mill siding to Wellington. The Southland (Riverton) railage charge to Christchurch is 6s 6d while the average cost of transit from West Coast mill sidings to Christchurch «r These figures show that the V\ est Coast mills would have to produce timber at 3s or 4s per 100 feet less cost than Southland to compete on level terms. It appears that the Coast milling industry cannot look for much improvement before the opening of the Otira tunnel, unless an extensive revival of trad© takes place in the meantime.

A good deal of timber is on the wharf bury will be lost altogether unless some Kaitangata will provide a number of wat«rsiders with employment, as she will take a full load (over one million feet) of timber to Australia. —Christchurch Press.