MAMAKU SAWMILL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22398, 20 April 1936, Page 10

MAMAKU SAWMILL

EARLY REOPENING GOVERNMENT'S DECISION RIMU TIMBER FOR RAILWAYS OPERATION AT FULL CAPACITY [ry telegraph—special reporter] WELLINGTON. Sunday The early reopening of the Marnaku State sawmill, near Rotorua, which was closed in 11)34 by order of the Railways Hoard, was announced yesterday by the Minister of Railways, Hon. D. G. Sullivan. Within the next fortnight work will be found at Mamaku for approximated 50 men.

The Minister said that prior to the closing of the mill in August, 1931, all the rimu timber requirements for the Railways Department in the North Island, amounting at that time to approximately 2,000,000 superficial feet annually, were provided from Mamaku. During the last two years difficulty had been experienced in obtaining timber cut to meet the particular needs of the department. Sizes were required for railway purposes ivliich were known in the sawmilling industry as "silly sizes." The ]"5,000,000 feet of mountain rimu at Mamaku —the best timber of its kind in the North Island —was left untouched, although the overhead costs of the forest and the mill had still to bo carried by the department. "Benefit to Whole District" " A staff is now being assembled to operate the mill," Mr. Sullivan said, "which will be worked to its full capacity of from 3,000,000 to 4,000,000 superficial feet annually. Within a fortnight men will bo back at Mamaku and cutting operations will bo resumed at the earliest possible date. The 26 mill houses at Mamaku, many of which are at present vacant, will again be occupied by married men and their families and the reopening of the mill will be of benefit to the whole district." The Minister said that the Mamaku mill was purchased by the department from the Mountain Rimu Timber Company in 1915 and that except for short periods it had been operated to meet the timber requirements of the department. In the twelve months before the mill was closed the output was 2,000,000 superficial feet. With the reopening of the mill operations would be speeded up, not only to meet the department's immediato requirements, but also to build up stocks of seasoned timber for future use. It had to bo remembered that seasoning took up to three .years, according to the size of the timber. Matter Carefully Considered However, the working of the mill to full capacity would enable the timber to be produced at a lower cost than the department would have to pay for it on the open market and a probable result would be some relieving of the great pressure at present being experienced by the sawmilling industry. " The whole matter has been very carefully considered by the Government," Mr. Sullivan added. " The reopening of the mill has been strongly recommended by the general manager of the department, Sir. G. H. Mackley, and his executive officers and 1 am fully convinced that the decision is in the best interests of the public and the department as well as of the district which wai so seriously affected by the stoppage."

The closing of the Stato sawmill at Mamaku was announced in May, 1934, and came into effect about three months later, in spito of efforts made to obtain a reconsideration of the Railway Board's decision. The announcement caused great concern in the township of Mamaku, as it was practically dependent on the State mill and two others, for its existence. It was pointed out at the time that if the mill was closed, about half the population would be thrown out of employment. Protests were forwarded by Mamaku residents to the Government, pointing out that the mill was equipped >and organised to deal with the Railway Department's special orders, and that it had operated at a profit. The Railways Board's decision was vigorously denounced by Mr. C. H. Clinkard, then M.P. for Rotorua, when speaking in the Imprest Supply Bill debate in the House of Representatives in August, 1934. He said that the activity at the mill was being closed either because of the absolute incapacity of the board to administer it, or owing to a domestic quarrel. The then Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, said that after hearing Mr. Clinkard's speech he had decided to ask the Railways Board to reconsider the position. Subsequently, the Mamaku Residents' Committee received from Mr. Forbes a telegram stating that he proposed to request the board to go further into the offer to work the mill on a co-operative basis. It was announced in September, 1934, that an endeavour to find work for the men engaged at the null was being made by the board. A statement made in the House by Mr. Forbes in September. 1935. was to the effect that the mill was not likely to bo reopened by the board in the near future.