IMPORTATION OF OREGON PINE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14280, 31 July 1908, Page 3

IMPORTATION OF OREGON PINE

THE POSITION IN OTAGO. Inquiries among local timber-merchants and sawmillers disolose the fact that the importation of Oregon pine to New Zealand from America, over which northern people, aro so much concerned at the present time, is not in any 6onse of the word a cause of alarm at" this end of tho Dominion. In the first place, very little Oregon pine comes to Dunedin port, and then there are such unlimited quantities of marketable timber in the province that there is no foai of the American article obtaining a hold on tho market.

A local timber merchant, speaking to one of our reporters yesterday, in the fiTst place attributed tho existing low price at which Oregon pine could bo obtained in tho Dominion to the financial collapse in America. Tho price was now down to bedrock, and the early experience would lie that the price would rise again, and then tho quantity of Oregon pine coming into New Zealand would diminish considerably, That would come about so 6con as the Americain money market righted itself. Another factor responsible for tho heavy shipments of the American timber was the difficulty experienced in obtaining kauri timber in the north. As a result of that had turned thoir attention to Oregon pine. But the opinion was expressed that Oregon nine was not displacing tho New Zealand. rod pine, and was not likely to do so. All that had been said about seriously affecting New Zealand labour and production in connection with this matter was simply a side issue, raised to attract sentiment, and false sentiment at that. The whole position would gradually right itself, and there was no reason at aill why New Zoalanders should be alarmed over the situation. That, our reporter was informed, was the view accepted of the position by practically the whole of the timber merchants of Dunedin.

Another gentleman questioned on the situation was Mr H, V. Haddock, manager of Messrs John Murdoch and Co,, timber merchants and eawmillere., Mr Haddock said ho did not think that fcho importation of Oregon pino would make tho slightest difference while there were the vast timber areas in Southland. As far as tho price of tho imported article was concerned, it was bound to increase. The price was certainly very low ,at the present time— righfc down to bedrock, —but he would not ho at all surprised if at any moment an advanco was chronicled. The Americans themselves were almost cortain to place an export duty on their Oregon timber, as their forests were ■ becoming rapidly depleted, There was no occasion for placing an import duty on tho timber here, as matters would right themselves very eoon. As to the timber itself, it, would not for one thing take the place of: our own timbers for outside work, as it would not stand the weather, and oven if it were to be used for outside work it would not take the paint. Oregon timber had a certain gumlike vein running through' it, and as tho timber dried that vein rose, and the result was a corrugation on tho surface, which skinned the paint. It was a fact that Oregon timber was not imported to this end of the Dominion to any great ex-tent. Very little of it came here. As far as Otago and Southland were concerned, it need not bo considered. What it was used most largely here for was for joisting, owing to tho fact that big lengths could be obtained. Mr Haddock said he had a small shipment coming to hand. It- was really an experiment on his part, his object being to SCO how it would work in certain connections in place of kauri, the price of which was very high. It might do for ecrtain insido work, such .'ls for window sashes and inside door f rames. But for this class of work red pino was tho timber most largely used, and it was cheaper in price. It was a foot, that Oregon pine, in building contracts, was only asked for onoe in six months. It could not compete with reel pine. There was no occasion to agitate for an import duty being placed on it. What he would advise, and that very strongly, was that an export duty should bo placed on kauri timber. Kauri timber he considered tljo finest timber in tho world for all-round work, and everything should be done to keep it in tho Dominion and prevent the Icauri forests being so heavily depleted. It was a great pity that so much kauri timber was boing shipped to Sydney and Melbourne and tho Home Country, to the detriment of the people in the Dominion. Hero it was never known when a shipment of kauri oould be obtained. Reverting to the alarm ovor what was considered tho displacement of the New Zealand timber -by the American commodity, it was argued that, thero was nmplo suitable timber in Otago and Southland. At the present time the production was greater than tihe demand. More mills were going up, and that meant that tho price of our own Umlier would oome down. In Wellington tho cost of red pino was much heavier than in Dunedin. and they had to turn to Oregon pine there. In Auckland they had been importing Oregon timber against kauri, the former being much cheaper. There was, Sir Haddock repeated, no ocoasion for alarm. The timber would never come here in any serious quantities, and tho importations to the North Island, it was oonsidered. would not be lasting. The price was bound to go up. America was getting tired of her low rates. PROTEST FROM NAPIER. (Per United Press Association.) NAPIER, July 30. At a meeting of the Hawko's Bav Builders and Contractors' Union to-day it was decided to lodgo a strong protest against the suggestion that the duty on Oregon pine should bo increased. It was stated that lees than two yoajs in this district the rise in the price erf timber had been equal to 3s 3d per 100 ft. What, surprises intelligent farmers is the Mitchell Grain Drill. It is, positively the drill; works with hoes or discs.—Nimnio and Blair,