EXPORT OF TIMBER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12409, 23 October 1903, Page 5

EXPORT OF TIMBER.

INCREASED DUTIES.

DISCUSSION IN PARLIAMENT. [BY TELEGRAPH.SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Thursday. . A Bill was introduced by Governors message to-day to increase the export duty on baulk timber. The Bill is a simple little measure, increasing the duty on round logs, logs squared with axe or saw, and half logs, from 3s per 100 superficial feet to 5s per hundred superficial feet. The duty on flitches or pieces remains as at present, 3s per 100 superficial feet. ' These are the maximum duties. , The Premier, in introducing the Bill. said, in case there might be any misapprehension, and lest he should be accused of bringing down unimportant Bills at this late stage in the session, he wished to say that the Bill was an important one. In 1901, Parliament provided for an export duty of 3s per 100 ft on kauri logs, but sawmillers in the colony had found that it was not sufficient, and there were now large orders in the colony to take away kauri logs. This had been represented to the Government, and in the interests of the industry in the colony it was proposed to increase the duty. The Leader of the Opposition said he was pleased to hear the Premier indicate that only important Bills would be introduced ; *or the remainder of the session. Mr Hemes said it was a vicious principle to allow the Governor to regulate the Customs duties. He maintained that the power should be given back to the House. The Leader of the Opposition asked it the representations made to the Government were made by responsible people who could speak for the sawmilling industry oi the colony. Mr. Mills said the representations were made by reliable people who knew what they were talking about. The alteration would affect while pine logs as well as kauri logs. ~ Mr. Houston said he would oppose the Bill. Many men who found employment in the -timber industry were not able to erect mills for themselves, and if a high duty were imposed they would be forced to sell to the millers, and submit to any price. . ~ „ Mr. Mills said an order was coming forward now for 2,000,000 ft of logs if the locs were allowed to go out of the colony it would be to the detriment of those who found employment in' the mills oi the colouv. , . i Sir' William Russell said if the colony com- , menced a system of protection there was no j saying where they would stop. It might, however, be necessary to impose an export tax to prevent the kauri timber giving out. The Minister ought to inform the House * how far we were from the point when it would be practically impossible to procure kauri timber for our own use. it might be a matter for consideration whether the colony should not altogether prevent the ■ exportation of kauri timber. Mr. Hogg said the settlers in his district had pointed out the .necessity of imposing a heavy duty oh white pine. He thought the House should seriously consider whether they should allow timber to be exported at all. * Mr. R. McKenzie said if the House wanted to conserve the timber it should be done by making reserves, and not by an export duty, which was unfair to those who had invested capital in timber. Mr. Mander said he did not know what was the object of the Bill. The New Zealand mills now cut up nearly the whole of the timber. There were certain isolated sections of bush where it would not pay to erect mills, and where it was impossible to get the timber to the mills, and it might be necessary to ship small cargoes of baulk timber away. It would be a great hardship to small bushowners to prevent them shipping the timber away when they could not sell to the mills. The Government had tried to conserve the kauri forests and had failed. *■ He believed the kauri would give out in less than 20 years, but ho did not see how it could be stopped, and, besides, there were vast areas of other useful timbers in New Zealand which would be on the market. The present duty was a very high one.

Mr. Massey strongly urged the House not to agree to this manner of fixing an export duty. He could understand that many arguments might be used in favour of putting an export duty on timber. It might be necessary to limit the export, because the en" of the kauri ' forest was in view. Apart from these arguments, however, he hoped the House would insist upon fixing the duty in a proper and constitutional manner, and not leave it to the Governor.

The Premier said the matter was originally left to the discretion of the Governor, because it was represented to him that a good deal depended on the competition outside as to whether a duty of 3s per 100 ft would be necessary. . The Bill was then read a first time.