AUSTRALIAN CUSTOMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11955, 2 May 1902, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN CUSTOMS.

THE DUTY ON NEW ZEALAND TIMBER. When the timber duties in the Federal tariff was being considered in committee of the Federal House of Representatives, Mr. Manifold (Victoria) moved, *' That New Zealand pine, undressed, be free without restriction as to size." Ho said that the proposal to give a rebate on butter-box timber would not fully meet the case, since there was a great waste, and in addition a large amount of timber was used in making boxes for the Commonwealth consumption. Queensland pine had not been proved to be so suitable tor butter boxes, while, in audition, it was not sufficiently plentiful nor cheap enough for that purpose. This limber would not enter into competition with building timber. It had been tried for that purpose and proved thoroughly unsuitable. The Queensland timber was superior to that of Xew Zealand, while pine should he used for more profitably purposes than making butter boxes. The offal or waste pieces of white pine from Now Zealand were sent over to Australia and sold at about 5s per 100 ft to orchardists, who made them up into fruit cases. Fully bO per cent. ol the butter boxes used in the Commonwealth were exported in Queensland. They had to import New Zealand white pine except in those cases where Queensland pine grew close to the factory. a Mi" nf\ aß < NS - W said that as far as New South Wales was concerned the supply of pine was unlimited. In fact, it was asserted that Australian timber'was sent to Sydney, and there cut up and sold as New Zealand timber . Mr. Fuller (N.S.W.) said the dairying industry desired not to be hampered by being lorced to buy its timber from New South Wales or Queensland when it was dearer and loss suitable. ± , Mr. Glynn (S.A.) said the fact remained that while 32,000,000 ft of timber was required for butter boxes annually, Queensland could supply only 1,500,000 ft. Queensland pine was much dearer, being 15s Id as against lis 5d for Now Zealand pine. In. Victoria one manufacturer alone would have lost over £4000 last year by using Queensland pine. " Mr. McLean (Vic.) denied that it was admitted by dairymen that Queensland timber had been demonstrated to be better than New Zealand.

Mr. J. Cook (N.S.W.) said New Zealand charged 3s per 100 ft export duty on this (timber, and even with that import it competed with Queensland timber, which was not commercially available. To people interested the tax would only be a fine on them, since they would still use New Zea land timber. The Minister for Customs said New Zealand had taxed timber in larger sizes in order to keep the work of cutting timber up in that colony, but the sizes for butter-box timber were not affected. Mr. J. Cook (N.S.W.) said the Minister was wrong. Mi. Macdonald-Paterson (Q.) strongly opposed the -proposal to make this timber" free, holding that the use of any suitable timber which could be found in the Commonwealth should be encouraged. Mr. Kennedy (Vic.) said he was prepared to support the proposal in an amended form so that New Zealand'white pine should be specified. He knew of the 'time when bnttermakers had tried in vain to obtain timber for butter boxes in the Commonwealth.

Mr. Thompson (N.S.W.) said that a vast number of fruit cases were made from offcut kauri, and any duty 011 that would seriously affect fruitgrowers. Meat cases and tallow casks were also largely made from kauri. Mew Zealand limber was in the hands of white labour, and had certainly no advantages; over the timber of Queensland and New South Wales as regarded working or transit. lie had nothing to say against Queensland and New South Wales timber, which as timber was superior to the New Zealand white pine but required much more seasoning than the latter. The average price of ,««? the Queensland mills was 8s lOd per .while New Zealand butter-box if!?** mi? Purchased ior about 6s per lUUtt. inns users would have to pay a duty, while the difference in price would not mean consumption of more Queensland timber.

Mr. Ewing (N.S.W.) recognised that the <tuty could not be carried as against butterbox timber, and therefore desired to see the words "white pine" inserted sc as to exempt timber used for making butter-boxes. (No, no.") At the request of the Minister for Customs, Mr. _ Manifold said ho would temporarily withdraw hit proposal to allow of any other being moved.

I < Mr. Kwing then moved, "tw ~ a white be .inserted between & jflffi and pine, so that only New 7i7 '^ar*)' pine should be exempt fro ra dutT** ***•' Air. J. Cook eaid h* wohM *' ! addition the words "arid '• m ° Tc «• »« Mr. Brown (N.B.W \] « I pared by the expert showed that t^ urea *■*- duty would be a burden of £nrd™***<l i annual Commonwealth , (xnnrt zi'i* 3 ° !he Mr. CKMalley tTa* ) «jX£: of bt >'ter. I make all New" Zealand Jfaf *<*« to I garded New Zealand as «Z ■ JT;- »' he £ I the Commonwealth. '' ! ' VI Part of .The amendment was carrion 1 0, I to 28, amidst cheers. ** ''•>' 2 v 01,., I T/ie Minister for Custom* = i should make all New Zealand ,' ,?>f>>! «I the. I free as the best way of sealing Und «*4 This was agreed to. ° 8 the 1««tio^