THE TIMBER COMMISSION.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 8 April 1909, Page 4

THE TIMBER COMMISSION.

[UNITID PfiSifl ASSOGIAKOR;] I *ac_. ... I CBttISTCHURCH, Wednesday. I The Timber Commission resumed its * inquiry to-dayr S Mr William Gosse, continuing his evidence, said he had made a return of prices at various times back to 1&74. In that -year the price of red" pine was 17s to 18s, when timber was being obtained from Banks' Peninsula. Duriug the past three years his business had decreased. He had a sawmill of his own, and had interests in others on the West Coast. The slump in sawmilling had been gradual. ' Locally Oregon had replacedred "pine, Foot for foot for every foot impolted he was not making the profit he should , make oil ths amount of capital invested, ' and the business was not successful. '• Replying to a qu-stion, witness said that anyone could purchase timber from him. On account of the risk of fire it was better to use timber as needed. He favoured th? Government conserving timber lands it it could be done without danger of fire. Fifty per cent was the maximum quantity of good timber that could be obtained from red pine logs. Oregon was not- required in Christchurch. Men of the present time did not work as well as the men of the past, and there was not the same output of work. Mr Jennings, M.P., asked if Mr Cos.' thought that the race had degenerated. Mr Jennings said tliat wherever he had been in Australia and America he had found New Zealanders holding pride of position as workmen.