BEECH INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 127, 30 April 1937, Page 2

BEECH INDUSTRY.

CONCERN FOR FUTURE. Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, April 29. A complaint that the beech industry in Otago and Southland was on the verge of ruin ns a result of unforeseen reactions to recent Government- legislation was made by Mr J. R. Wilson, representative of the beech industry on the Sawmillers’ Federation, during a visit ot the Minister of Lands (Hon. F. Langstone) to Tawanui to-day. Mr Wilson stated that a consider able trade had been built up with England and Australia, but the higher costs caused by the 40-hour week and the restoration of the 1931 level of wages had killed the former and seriously jeopardised the market, in Australia for second-grade timber. He pleaded with the Government to render assistance so that sawmillers could continue to carry out contracts which were made before the rise in wages. If assistance was aiot forthcoming, the industry would undoubtedly go on the down grade and perhaps face extinction.

The Minister expressed the view that the internal trade in beech timber should be built up. It was with this object, he said, that the Government had been trying to influence the Fruitgrowers’ Federation to place orders for at least 100 000 cases with the mills in Ol igo and .Southland. He referred to the probability of a greater amount o f timber being used in connection with the Government housing policy, for which £3.500.000 had been provided. He assured the sawmillers that the Government would do everything it could to assist every industry in the Dominion, including tho hooch industry.