MORE SAWMILLS CLOSING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19558, 10 February 1927, Page 8

MORE SAWMILLS CLOSING.

POSITION ON THE WEST COAST NO EMPLOYMENT FOR MEN. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] HOKITIKA, Wednesday.

News from South Westland to-d&y indicates that additional sawmills are closing down in that district. The Ross correspondent of the Hokitika Guardian states that 50 per cent, of, the male population was dependent on sawmill work, and all the mills in the locality are now closed or dosing. Men are now daily seeking employment, which is not available. A local miller who had to close said the state of the timber trade was principally due to the importation of foreign timbers from Canada and the United States, causing a shortage of orders for the New Zealand commodity. Most timber yards in the buying centres were congested with New Zealand timbers, which have had to give way to imported timber.

He said there was no immediate prospect of the market improving unless builders bought only New Zealand timber.

timber from overseas. COMBATING IMPORTATION. [BT TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] TAUMARUNUI, Wednesday.

A public meeting called by the Mayor, Mr. G. E. Manson, to discuss the depression in the timber industry was largely attended.

The meeting was addressed by Mr. R. W. Smith, M.P. for Waimarino, and a provisional committee was set up to.canvass for assistance in a fight against imported timber and to report at a later meeting.