THE TIMBER COMMISSION.

Mataura Ensign, 16 March 1909, Page 2

THE TIMBER COMMISSION.

SOME WELLINGTON OPINIONS

•'There i.s going to lie jL'HI.OOU wasted over this commission." said a leading member <il a large linn of timber merchants in regard to the recentl,v-ap»' pointed Timber Commission, "and w hen it has done its work it will tell us just as much about tho industry as wo know at present." Another leading member oi the firm exjiretsed the opinion thai there wore too many members of Parliament and not enough practical men on the commission. A commission of three men, representing the Government. the sawiuillers and tile public (including builders), could do the work sufficiently with a fraction of tho expense. In the present state of the money market tlm Government should have shown economy, and not set up a commission of twelve persons, whose expenses would be very hvuv£, when they went about the country lulling evidence. Ho referred to the greatly reduced demand for timber not only ill Wellington but in all the provincial towns, and declared his conviction that the only thing to set. right- (lie timber industry would be a return to normal prosperity. "We simply .-.ay a.s timber merchants that, we are not represented," snid Mr W. Hopkirk, chairman ol the Timber Merchants' Association, when n 'Dominion' reporter approached him for his opinion of the commission—its construction and scope. Much moro he did not care to say. Information of value might be brought out by the inquiry, but lie thought that as much could have been found out by a few Departmental ollicer.s. Again, there wen; ono or two experts among tho commissioners, but some of (hem—well, he limited to know . whoro thoy got their if they had it. Tho commission should bo composed entirely of unbiased men or else entirely of experts who were well acquainted with the industry. Sir Joseph Ward had said tlmt the tariuorn were Well represented, but hail the farmers so much to do with timber'? Did they grow it. J Ho knew most ol the members of the commission, and fhough he would not say that they were inexperienced, lie did not like to say that they had a good knowledge of the subject.