THE TIMBER TRADE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17098, 22 February 1916, Page 4

THE TIMBER TRADE.

RISE L\ T ORDINARY BUILDING MATERIAL. OTHER LINES NORMAL. The price of ordinary rough timber for building purposes having gone up in price by Is per 100 feet, a " Lyttelton Times " reporter yesterday sought information on the subject in the timber market. I

A leading merchant said that, while rough timber was up Is, as stated, other lines were practically normal; prices bad varied little during the last three years. A few years ago the price of timber had been even higher than at present, but it had fallen and had risen again gradually. He did not consider the price of timber excessive, considering the abnormal conditions that prevailed. There was little doubt, however, that timber, would become dearer, and there was a likelihood that imported descriptions might become scarce, but that fear did not concern the immediate future.

Owing to the war, remarked the merchant, great difficulty was being experienced in regard to* importing timber. Little timber was coming into New Zealand from Australia, and. so far as American wood was concerned, merchants were entirely in the hands of shipping companies. In normal times one could be sure of getting freights and a quick despatch of vessels, and the trade experienced no difficulties. The war had changed all this. "Money hardiy counted now so far as ships wore." concerned. The vessels were simply not available. As an instance of this shortage of ships, it was significant that the Home Government was offering all facilities for ship-building. There was no doubt that a great shortage of vessels was anticipated, as a 'result of the war, and that the Government was looking well ahead. QUESTION OF BUILDING CONTRACTS. It was hard to fix prices for imported timber, said the merchant. There were large stocks in hand of Oregon pine and no difficulty would be experienced in fulfilling building contracts for a long time yet. But of the future there was some room for doubt. He had been told that if he offered three times the ruling freight for a line from Australia, which was procurable, he oould not obtain a vessel to carry the vimber. This wns a serious position. ;So far as hard woods were concerned, the future outlook was undoubtedly serious. In regard to New Zealand timber, there was plenty of it, but it still remained t 0 be seen what the full effect of the war would mean. The West Coast was. experiencing considerable difficulty in getting timber through, owing to so many men engaged in the work of felling and milling having enlisted. And the troublo i was increasing. The timber workers were amongst the very hardiest ot tno Dominion's manhood and they were eminently suited, from the nature ot ' their daily toil, to carry out hard tasks and endure'the effects of wet weather and fatigue; consequently, they formed a -most desirable class to draw upon for soldiers. Workers going to the front.

"And." continued the mercnaut, <; wo realise that"all considerations m the meantime must be sunk to this one great purpose of sending soldiers .to the war front. The ranks of the timber workers of New Zealand, as elsewhere, must continue to be drawn upon very largely for the purpose. - Consider what the effect will be if the war is unduly prolonged. We are all right in the" meantime, and for'a considerable period ahead: but it is the future we /fear. What of two years hence? We have to look far ahead." Local freights wero not yet affected, but shipping was having a bad time, and it was almost certain that the rates would increase. The cost of labour was higher and it was becoming increasingly difficult to obtain men. ANOTHER REASON FOR THE INCREASE. Another merchant told the reporter that there had bean but one rise in " clean" timber in twelve months. There had been no rise in building timber until now. Apart from the labour difficulty, on account of men enlisting for the war, another reason that would account for the increase in the price of New Zealand timber was the fact that on the West Coast the cutters were getting further in the bush. This meant the laying of new tramlines and further added expenditure in getting the timber out. Freights on Oregon' pine had gone up enormously since the war. First they had risen by 50 per cent, and to-day were certainly from 100 to 120 per cent higher than during the pre-war period. The position in regard to shipping was such that old timber boats, that had been turned into coal hulks, were in some instances, now beincc overhauled and Repaired prior to being again put into commission as timber ships. > Merchants had to wait the, convenience of shipping. The merchant thought that the trade would not experience any pronounced shortage so far as New Zealand woods werei concerned for a very long time, even under the abnormal conditions now prevailing, but he could offer no opinion in regard to imported timbej- f There was no reason to worry in the meantime. There were ample stocks on hand to cope with building contracts for a lengthy period. But a gradual increase iii prie<is must be expected. If local freights went up, a rise in the price of timber would follow.