Timber Supplies

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 211, 6 September 1944, Page 7

Timber Supplies

Mr. A. E. Allen, president of the Manawatu Master Builders’ Association, presided over an attendance of some seventy timber merchants, builders, joiners, furniture manufacturers and other timber users, at a meeting convened to consider what action should be taken regarding the fixing of a timber quota for the district and the future activities of the Timber Allocation Committee. The committee reported on an interview with the Timber Controller, Wellington, last week, the outcome of which was very unsatisfactory. They contended that large stocks of timber were being held oy Wellington timuer merchants which had been built up at the expense of this district and the district was now placed on an inadequate quota with no stocks in hand to alleviate the position. A monthly quota of 400,000 feet had been allotted to the district which runs from north of Otaki to include Marton and Rata, but excluding Haicomoe and Ash hurst. This quota in the opinion of the meeting was Hopelessly inadequate and it was resoived that owing to the very serious position in which tne building industry is placed through lack of supplies, this large and representative meeting of builders, joiners, furniture manufacturers and other timber users requests that the Essential Building Works Eaoour Legislation Modification Order as it applies to the building industry, be withdrawn and the trade revert to the forty hour week and award conditions, and furuier, that every inducement be given to sawmillers to speed up produc tion. Failing relief from the Order or additional supplies being immediately made available, the discharge of a large number of the men engaged in the industry in this district is inevitable, ft was decided to forward copies of this resolution to the Prime Minister, the Building Controller and the Leader of the Opposition, it was contended that by reverting to a forty hour week less timber would be consumed by the numoer of men at present engaged xn the industry and the stock position might be alleviated. The committee were given authority to make a further approach to the Timber Controller in au endeavour to secure additional supplies.