THE TIMBER STRIKE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20218, 1 April 1929, Page 10

THE TIMBER STRIKE.

EFFECTS ON WEST COAST.

DIMINUTION OF EXPORT.

SERIOUS POSITION DISCLOSED.

The ripples set up in the industrial world by strike troubles in Australia have spread across the Tasman, and the timber trade on the west coast is now being adversely affected. Consignees in the Commonwealth are unable to accept delivery of timber orders and the skids at the west coast mills are rapidly filling up. . If tho stoppage continues much longer, timber experts state, tho mills will be forced to suspend operations and the industry, already in a condition of slump, will be further driven up on the financial rocks. The steamer Omana, which holds ths port record at Greymouth for the biggest outward cargo, was en route to Greymouth last week and would have loaded over one million and a-quarter superficial feet of white pine for Australia. It was found that only 200,000 ft. could be accepted, however, and harbour dues at Greymouth did not warrant the vessel entering the port. She was, therefore, instructed by wireless to return to Sydney, and turned back after she had left Gisborno for Greymouth. The Omana is not the only vesel trading to the west coast that is affected. The Gabrulla and Kalingo, both wellknown large carriers of timber, have been laid up in Australia and their crews have been paid off. The Poolta took only half a load of timber on her last outward voyage, while the Kartigi is taking at least 500,000 ft. less than her capacity. The pre-strike export of white pine to Australia from the west coast was about 1,700,000 ft. a month.

A Greymouth timber agent staled that his firm had received instructions not to ship any more timber until the strike ends. As a matter of fact it is doubtful whether any more vessels will be available until that time. To give some indication of the way in which timber is piling up on the skids, he stated that at one mill employing only five men there is no less than 120,000 ft. stacked. This is not the worst time of the year, but white pine is likely to become spotted and if the hold-up in the export trade continues the only thing to do will be to strip and dry the timber, which means extra cost of production.

The Australian trade is practically everything to the west coast mills, as the white pine used in Now Zealand is, as the agent expressed it, "only a flea bite," In the circumstances the urgent appeal made to the timber workers of the west coast by Mr. F. L. Turley, union secretary, for funds to assist the Australian strikers is a neat piece of irony.