THE PRICE OF TIMBER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13524, 23 August 1907, Page 5

THE PRICE OF TIMBER.

ALLEGED COMBINE IN WELLINGTON. STATEMENT IN THE HOUSE. [IIY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Thursday. Notice was given in the House to-day by Mr. Hogg of his intention to ask the Government if it will take steps to regulate the supply and price of timber in New Zealand, and Mr. Field gave, notice to ask if the Government will inquire into the truth, or otherwise, of the charge that the Wellington suppliers of timber have entered into a combination. The latter question is the outcome of some remarks by Mr. Barker, member for Newtown, who, in speaking on the subject of an alleged trust in Wellington, said that he had some tables which gave a comparison of the prices of kauri timber in New Zealand and Australia. He would give one item. In Wellington the price of 6in by Jin Longued, grooved and beaded lining was 255. In Sydney it was 20s 6d ; a difference of 4s 6d. notwithstanding the cost of shipment to Australia. Builders and manufacturers purchasing outside the association, he said, were penalised by being deprived of certain discount. He had a communication which had been addressed to one manufacturer in Wellington by the association, 10 this effect:—"l am instructed to inform you that your name has been deleted from the builders' and contractors' special discount." There was another letter from the association, saying, "These deletions have been made for procuring supplies outside the association." This, said Mr. Barker, was interfering with legitimate competition. He had a list of the firms in Wellington who had been penalised to this extent, simply because, as the letter said, they had gone outside the association. Seeing that ordinary building timber had risen from 8s to 13s 6d, was it any wonder, he asked, that "Uch high rents prevailed in Wellington? Very nearly half a worker's wages was paid for his week's rent, and it was not altogether the fault of the landlord, if the cost of building was increased to this extent through the high price of materials.