THE TIMBER COMMISSION.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 678, 30 March 1909, Page 7

THE TIMBER COMMISSION.

EXPERT EVIDENCE.

The Timber Commission sat at luveroargill to take evidence. E. A. Leary,secretary to the Otago and Southland Sawmillors' Association, said the association was formed ia 1907 with fifteen' members, representing 21 mills, out of a total or 78 mills iu the district One object of tlie association was to maintain uniform prices. There wete now eight eeo members.

J. Hensly, managing 'director of tho Southland Timber Uompany, Baid the oost of production varied aooordiug to the nature of the country, The dbst would average 8s to 8a 6d, 50 per cent of that representing, wages. The difficulty was that the life of a bush area was short, aud depreciation considerable. The average life was six years. With tho area allowfd, the oost of a mill to out 100,000 feet a mouth would be £4OOO, and the value of the plant would be £7OO after six vears 1 use. Discounts varied. Timber delivered iu luveroargill sold at 7s 9d net. His was rough first class, the average net selling price baiug 9s to 9s 6d, including timber of all classes. The price of timber in 1007 showed au average increase of ninepeuce per 100 feet, oi ten per cent. Wages rose higher in proportion as the price was raised, because in the increase iu cost of production wages was the main item. Oregon pine did not'affect Southland to any appreciable extent. The inactivity iu the building trade was largely due to tightness in the money market. Millers got a profit of one shilling per 100 feet, wliioh was not sufficient, considering the risk thoy run. Timber was brought from the Baltic at the same freight as it was carried from Riverton to Mosgiol. H. A, Massey, sawmiller and timber merohaut, Eaid the wages were a little higher than they were 25 years ago. Thirty-three por cent of the mills were paying above tho award rate. Mills had made improvements in their plants but hot to thfl same extent as America and Canada, where they had an unlimited area of bush, wheroas the bußh was limited and inferior. He was inclined to think that Oregon pine had come to stay, which would probably bo good for the country but not for the sawmillers. It Oregon displaced red pine at Lyttelton the West Coast millers would Buffer. There was about 70 mills in Southland. He did not think the timber in Southland would be cut out in six years. It would take more like 85 yoars.

YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS, (Press Association). Invercargill, Last Night.

W. H. Brent, sawmiller, Baid the importatiou operated detrimentally ou millers who suffered mostly from depression aoceutuated, however, by the importation of Oregon pine, Wages had increased in recent,, years owing to the bush being further back. One mill at Seaward Bush, was worth two ac any other pari; of Southland. His oorapany'had taken up bush which was inaccessible and had to give it up. An important itom was depreciation. His company laid a tramway at a cost of £I2OO. Not six years afterwards it ; was not worth half a crown. "The' Government should grant extended areas at Papatotafa across the Waiau. Some, of the finest bush iu Southland was destroved by,settlers as it was too far from the railway to mill it. He did not believe in conserving timber wliioh should be out out with view to settlement. Sinoe the Sawmillers' Association was formed prices had decreased owing to trade discounts: Tliediffereuoe'lucostqf production ' in hilly and ■ level," Country was two shilling per 100 feet. Seventylive per oent of the output left Southland, The production in 1908 was 27 million, two million less than in 1904 and the mills iu that time inoreased, The bush in Spujshlaiid was inferior 'to Other part's'of the Dominion. Wages were as high as anywhere. Oregon was more durable than red pine, also lighter, and was used mostly for heavy beams. Carpenters most have Oregon for oertain purposes. The Australian duty on birch had a serious effeot on millers, who had goneto the expense of ereoting a plant to work biroh bush. The uost of ordinary Oregon lauded in Dunedin wbb 10s 6d, the same as rimu, Oregon was larger and wider. The duty might be iucreased on small' pieces and ..lightened on laige, as the latter sizes were not prod need here, Continuing, witness,, who is president of the Sawmillers' Association, said he thought the importation of Oregon should bo retarded and suggested a lighter duty on heavy timber because it was such as could not be produced, in the oolouy and was wanted for building. A heavy duty should be placed on lighter timber. The Government could greatly relieve sawmillers by exteuding the bush areas that could bo held, so that mills would bo .assured of a longer life. Millers could then adopt improved methods by which the cost of production would be lowered. During recent years the inoreased oost timber for bouse building was only about Is per nun dred feet and he would be astonished to hear that such a slight iuorease oausod capitalists to refrain from investing money in house building. Andrew Bain, President of the Builders' Association, Btated that the rise in the price of tibmer made a difference of at least £6O or £6O in the coßt of a four or five-roomed oottage. The price for rough rimu bad risen during the" J 'last 20 years from 8s 9d to 10s 6d per 100 feet, Builders stoutly opposed aiy inoreased doty on Oregon, beoause it was necessary, being lighter and more durable than red pine, and beopuse builders got it seasoned and it was impossible to get red pine not gieen. He contended that the Sawmillers' Association had been formed to raise prices aud had done so.