Importation of Foreign Timbers

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 42, 19 February 1938, Page 2

Importation of Foreign Timbers

PARTIAL PROHIBITION URGED Per Press Association. GREYMOUTH, Last Night. Referring to a telegram from Palmerston North in which the removal of the import duties on redwood and Oregon pine was suggested, the secretary of the New Zealand Tixnberworkers ’ Union (Mr. Turley) stated that he had sent a communication to the Prime Minister pointing out that, instead of removing the duties on foreign timbers, the Government should seriously consider preventing the importation of any foreign timber, except timber which could not be produced in New Zealand. “To-day we are under competition with foreign countries in which 48 hours per week, and more in some countries, are worked, and the people have a lower standard of living than in New Zealand,” said Mr. Turley. “It was the duty of the Government to prevent foreign timber coming into the Dominion and thus displacing New Zealand workers in the latter part of last year, and already this year a large number of men in the butterbox industry are either idle or working short time on account of the importation of butter boxes. “On these importations the duty was refunded if the butter was re-exported in the imported boxes. In spite of this, New Zealand is paying out of the Consolidated Fund a very large sum each year so that the farmers can have a reasonable price for their butter.”