TIMBER FROM AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19386, 22 July 1926, Page 10

TIMBER FROM AUSTRALIA.

ADVANCE IN FREIGHT RATES. ALL HARDWOODS AFFECTED. [by telegraph.—own correspondent. ] DTJNEDIN. Wednesday. The information that the Union Steam Ship Company will charge advanced freight rates on timber shipped from all New South Wales ports to New Zealand by 13 1-3 per cent, from August 1 has caused some concern in Dunedin. As the result of the increase in freight, the building of dv eilings will not be affected. No timber for that purpose comes to New Zealand from Sydney, but there is a tremendous lot of Australian hardwood brought over in the shape of poles for electric lighting and piles and beams for wharves and bridges. The increase presumably applies to the Japanese oak, that comes to this country by way of Sydney. This oak is in demand for use by wheelwrights, as in the making of shafts and wheels. It is also imported in large quantities for manufacturing into furniture. *

INDUSTRY AT STANDSTILL. WORKERS' COMPENSATION ACT. A. and N.Z. SYDNEY. July 21. In addition to the Union Company, other lines engaged in the carriage of timber from New South Wale 3 ports to New Zealand intend to increase the freight rates. Their reasons are the higher cost of coal and increased charges for ship repairing. The extra costs have been brought about by the Workers' Compensation Act, and an increase of 25 per cent, has just been announced in the towage charges. Nearly all the timber exported from New South Wales goes to New Zealand. Owing to the new Compensation Act the timber industry in New feouth Wales is practically at a standstill. So far 58 mills have been closed down. The remaining few mills are continuing until logs which have been brought in are clearer] away. Then, it is stated, these will also be forced to close.