NEW ZEALAND TIMBER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20495, 21 February 1930, Page 11

NEW ZEALAND TIMBER.

OVERSEAS COMPETITION. PLEA FOR LOCAL PRODUCTS. [BY TELEGEAI'H. —on" core esponbknt. ] WELLINGTON. Thursday. A strong plea for the utilisation of New Zealand products, leading to a reduction of imports of foreign goods and consequent employment for a greater proportion of fhp population, was made by Mr. C. H. Clinkard, M.P, for Rotorua. To-day. Mr. Clinkard made special reference fu the limber industry..

" The timber industry is in a •very depressed condition," said Mr. Clinknrd. "It is employing something like. 4000 less men now than four years ago, and if nothing enn be done to assist it the probability is that quite a large number of mills will have to close down or reduce their staffs. The position is serious. " 1 take the attitude that the industries of New Zealand must be protected against exploitation by overseas exporters. A t present the importation of foreign timber is simply enormous. A very large proportion of this could very we'll be supplied by our own industry. " My own opinion is that the whole question of unemployment is bound up with the question of making our own products supply our own requirements, if that were realised and acted upon by the people of New Zealand unemployment would cease to-morrow and a large number of people could be employed in various industries, and employed profitably. This is' a question of tariff revision."