MASSEY COLLEGE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 118, 15 April 1930, Page 4

MASSEY COLLEGE.

EMPLOYMENT OF OREGON. - In urging that a remit be sent forward to the annual conference of power boards to the effect that imported .timbers, be placed on a parity with New Zealand timbers, Mr O. McElroy stressed at yesterday’s meeting of the Manawatu-Oroua Power Board the disability under which the board was operating insofar as the carriage of poles was concerned. Tire chairman (Mr J. A. Nnsh) mentioned that .he had taken the matter up with the Railway Department on an earlier occasion, but lie had been informed that, while a minimfnu charge was made on the carriage of New Zea-land-grown timber, the department was not prepared to extend the same treatment to the imported article. Mr M. A. Eliott considered that there was much to bo said for the other side, but on the engineer (Mr W. A.: Waters), pointing but that it was only hard woods which were con- ' berried, '.the speaker did not continue jsavo toi add that Mr McElroy had not piade the point clear. Mr J. RodgQns, iii commenting that comparisons were on ' occasions odious, stated that he liad been surprised to find that New. Zealand, woods had been substituted by Oregon pine at Massey College. No excuse liad been advanced for such action, but while it would not have been surprising to find the long trusses of Oregon, there was no apparent reason for the architraves, dadoes, etc., being of Oregon. Tlie chairman mentioned that lie had accompanied a party on a visit of inspection in the stages of the work when lie liad been inforriied that, the long girders could not be secured in New Zealand, but lie had been given an assurance by . the man in charge that it was not intended to employ other than New Zealand woods where such was possible. ' Mr Eliott stated that if he recollected, corrbctly the Minister , had been written to by the Borough Council and a reply liad been received to file effect that only the girders would be of imported timber. » ; The chairman considered that, being a Government job, New Zealand timbers should have been given, preference. He had been given 'the assurance. that such • would be so originally and lie had not— bothered - further. Such accordingly came as a .complete' surprise to him. ‘ : ; ; . " Mr Hodgons . I can assure you. that my statement is correct. i It was decided to send forward 'a remit urging that imported hard woods be placed oin a parity with New Zealand- timber, where its carriago on the railway was involved. . • >