IMPORTED TIMBER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20827, 20 March 1931, Page 14

IMPORTED TIMBER.

Sir,—Xt is reported. in the press that the American steamer Golden West berthed at Napier on March 7 and dillcharged a cargo of lumber from the Pacific slopes. The quantity of timber landed was not mentioned, but presumably it was considerable. Whether the consignment was in fulfilment of old contracts for do livery or whether it was purchased in anticipation of the need for timber for rebuilding the demolished and damaged buildings, I do not know, but the unpalatable fact remains that foreign timber is still being allowed into New Zealand while our own timber-workers are employed from 24 to 32 hours per week, our plants aro idle and our yards filled with New Zealand timber produced by New Zealand workers. During tho past fivo years conditions in the industry have become steadily worse, until at tho present, time few plants are working to even half of their capacity, and the continued importation of foreign limber is causing dismay to a}l connected with the industry. The instance of the latest Napier consignment is i particularly nauseating. In common with others, timber-workers assisted in contributing to tho earthquake relief fund, and apparently also incidenl;ally assisted to support the American timber trade, although in sore need of assistance themselves, it is to be hoped that, before it is too late, the "powers that bo" will stop in and insist that tljo public money so generously subscribed will be spent as far as possible on . New Zealand-made goods andl materials. I[t\ would also bo interesting to know the number of mail bags carried by the Golden West, which is o one of a number ';if steamers subsidised by the United States Government as mail-boats, running a monthly' service between Los Angeles and New Zealand ports. The subsidy is at the rate of about 10s 6d a nautical mile, or about £2866 a voyage, and timber is the general cargo. In December last the Golden Cross brought one bag of ordinary mail jand in November the Golden Cloud brought two bags, while the usual numbur is about 30 bags. There is always, how- j ever, quite a healthy consignment <>f timber, and the only inference is that the subsidy is fpr the benefit of the timbmr trade of America in helping the merchants' to defeat the aims of the tariff duty on foreign timbers imposed to.protect oiy own industry and to encourage the nf|e of New Zealand timbers. Timber-worker. ,