FOREIGN TIMBER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20518, 20 March 1930, Page 15

FOREIGN TIMBER.

INCREASE IN USE.

ATTITUDE OF GOVERNMENT.

PROTEST BY SAWMILLERS

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] HAMILTON, Wednesday. A protest against the continued use of foreign timber in houses built with the assistance of Government advances was made in a letter despatched by the Sawmillers' Timber Trading Company, Limited, Hamilton, to the Prime Minister at Rotorua. The letter was as follows: "At the annual meeting now toeing held at Hamilton of the Sawmillers' Timber Trading Company, Limited, representing the majority of sawmills in the North Island, grave dissatisfaction has been expressed at the failure of Government departments, public institution!) and private individuals using Government loan money to carry out the definite instructions given by you to Cabinet Ministers and departmental heads in March, 1929, that New Zealand timbers should bo used in all works and buildings financed with public money. Government returns issued this month show a steadily declining output from New Zealand sawmills and a stadily increasing importation j of foreign timber carried in foreign boats manned by foreign crews and subsidised by foreign money. " The direct effect of these increasing importations is an increase in the number of unemployed owing to shortening of hands in one of the principal wage-earn-ing industries of the Dominion and further reduced earnings of those in employment through shortening of working hours. The serious loss in operating revenue by the Railway Department, which is due in no small measure to the displacement of New Zealand timbers by foreign importations, must now be apparent to you. The freight loss to the department is approximately 50s per 1000 ft. This meeting Strongly appeals to you as Prime Minister and head of the Government to enforce your instructions to Ministers and departmental heads to make compulsory the use of New Zealand timber in Government works and buildings financed by loan money advanced by the Government as unanimously recommended by the special Government Timber Committee.

" Unless action on the lines indicated is taken further reduction in the number of workers in the industry is inevitable."