SAWMILLING INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20602, 28 June 1930, Page 14

SAWMILLING INDUSTRY.

CAUSES OF DEPRESSION.

HIGH COSTS AND IMPORTS.

[Br TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON, Friday.

" A branch of forestry that has not been in a flourishing state during the year is the sawmilling industry," said Mr. J. Deans, president, at the opening of the New Zealand Forestry League conference this evening. " Here we have an instance of how high wages, high transport costs and handling charges are slowly but surely destroying what should be a most prosperous and healthy means of livelihood for many people," he continued. "It is a very absurd position that a young country like New Zealand cannot produce its timber at a price that can compete with timber imported from other countries, some of them on the other side of the globe. " We have the forests and the means of transport and markets, but our costs are so high .that imported timber can come in at a cheaper rate than and, in many cases, get preference over our own grown article. This question is one that seems very serious and it is from ihe industry's point of view. But it may be of ultimate benefit to the country, be cause it will preserve our timber and each year should enable us to learn more about what can be done with our indigenous forests, so as to bring them to a continuous timber producing point."