“WHILE OUR TIMBER ROTS"

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12404, 25 March 1926, Page 3

“WHILE OUR TIMBER ROTS"

ALARMING IMPORTATIONS DISQUIETING INCREASE IN FIGURES “COUNTRY WILL HAVE TO SUFFER” The figures showing the imports of timber into New Zealand for the year 1925 are of such proportions as y to cause alarm among some who are interested in the industry. Mr Arthur ; Seed, secretary of the Dominion Federated Sawimllers* Association, regards the position as a serious one for the timber resources of New Zealand, and declares that if the situation becomes any worse the industry will be facing disastrous times, and some mills will have to close. The figures quoted by Mr Seed show that during the period 1922-1925, | the timber imported into this country has increased by 153 per cent, and the lvalue by over 130 per cent. During last year 82,974,619 square feet were imported, of a total value of £1,176,492, as against 32,757,755 square feet for the year 1922, of a value of £507,G 26. OUR COMPETITORS The chief alarm is expressed in respect to the imports of soft timbers and woods which are in direct competition to those , of New Zealand. Last year 45,972,929 square feet were brought into the country of a value of £574,445, as against 12,684,880 square feet in 1923, of a value of £199,433. * The full figures had to be read to be fully appreciated, stated Mr Seed. He thought that the tremendous increase of the past few years should give pause to the clamourings of those selfish interests which sought still freer importation of timber, while a largo part of the product of our own forests was allowed to rot for want of a market. “None,” ho went on, “enn fail to appreciate the seriousness of the position lor the Dominion’s timber industry, and concurrently for the Dominion as a whole, for it is being recognised by the Government that any setback to any of our principal wage-distributing secondary industries must affect the general welfare of the country. “DISASTROUS TIMES” “An increase of 262 per cent, in quantity of imports of these directly competing timbers, in only two years, u truly alarming; and unless some relief is secured by means of greater protection, or some means can b* found to check these imports, the timber industry in New Zealand is indeed facing disastrous times. “It will also be noted that whereas the quantity imported increased ‘ by 262 per cent, in the two years, the value increased by only 188 per cent., which at first sight would seem to indicate a very marked drop in prices of the kinds of timber usually (or previously) imported, such as Oregon, etc. Certainly the export prices on the “Pacific Slope” have been unusually low during the past two years, os evidence the constant reference in American timber journals to export sales being carried on at a loss and even at materially below cost of production. BUTTER-BOX WOOD “This fact, however, accounts for probably only part of the disparity in average cost per 100 as between 1923 and 1924, for certainly a very large factor is also the lower grades and poor timbers such as hemlock, that have composed -such a large proportion of the imports of late. “The imports from Sweden for 1924 amounted to 1,317,281 square feet, valu'd at £20,309, and fo* 1925 to 4,218,-

957 square feet, valued at £62,052, having roughly trebled in the year, 'these imports were almost wholly butter boxes; and it will be interesting to note how much is imported tins year in view of the dairy companies having been ‘bitten* so badly by th<-» tainting propensities of these boxes. “Apart from ‘logs hewn or round.* I every item in the schedule showa a marked increase in quantity imported last year, and, in addition to fhose already referred to, following are some of the main ones:— s.ft.—lncr. lronbark (other than' logs or poles) 306,814 Jarrah (not including sleepers) ...! 2,853,512 Oak 684,318 Spruce 501,428 Other (6,155,493 to 12,649,040) 6,493,547 Laths, palings, shingles, etc. 3,278,145 “MORE THAN DISQUIETING** “Altogether, the position disclosed by an examination of the timber import figures for the last two years is more than disquieting, and unless prompt and effective measures are taken to check the increase and materially reduce the volume of these importations, it will inevitably mean the closing down of more and more of our sawmills with consequent unemployment and distress in the rural districts.

“This in turn will mean an influx of timberworkers into the towns and cities; and carpenters and those now engaged in the building trades will be first to feel the competition for work. Excessive importations of timber therefore create a problem which concerns not alone the sawmiller and country timberworker, though they may be the first to suffer.”