IMPORTATION OF OREGON PINE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14281, 1 August 1908, Page 12

IMPORTATION OF OREGON PINE

BUILDING CONTRACTORS INTERVIEWED. Ycslcixlay morning wo published some expressions of opinion from timber merchants and enwrnillcrs on tho question of the importation of Oregon pine and the effect it has on local industry. This morning wo publish the views of tbe building trade on tho eanie subject, the opinions below expressed being indicative of tho feelings of the builders of Duncdin practically as a whole. The whole of the present outcry against the importation of Oregon timber is attributed to the Groymouth Sawmillors' Association, Builders and contractors in Dunedin were unanimously in favour of the removal of timber import duties in toto. There is, it was maintained, no timber in New Zealand to compete with Oregon excepting kauri, but the cost of kauri' is so prohibitive that it is quite beyond the people of the Dominion to make use of this very valuable commodity. Consequently, ti substitute lias been found in Oregon, which is 50 per cent, cheaper than kauri, and can be had at a uniform rate up to 40ft long and Win wide, Red pine is'not available in these • sizes or lengths without considerable additional cost, being incurred. In fact, it was laid down that a builder never knew what'he was going to pay for materials over the standard size—viz., Sin wide and 20ft long,—as for every inch, in width and every foot in length the >'price was advanced, and if heart was required there was a still greater addition. Oregon is a much cheaper timber and is much preferable to red pine in the case of heavy joisting, principal roof work, etc., on account of its rigidity, combined with its lightness, which is a big factor in the handling. The people of New Zealand wore being, and have been, deprived of the most valuable timber in the world—namely, kauri—and the' question was often raised as to how it was that Itauri was so much cheaper in Australia than in New Zealand, although there was an export duty on it of 2s per 100 Guper. , feet. The. greatly-increased price of kauri has had a great deal to do with, the extra cost of building, and it was strongly urged that Ihe time had long since arrived when a. prohibitive export duty was placed on it. The peoplo of tho Dominion might then, be afforded an opportunity of making use of thoir own timber. What consistency, it was asked, was there in the attitude of those responsible for tho present outcry when it was read that the West Coast sawmillers'had such huge orders on hand for Australia that they would be kept fully employed for some time to come, and then, in face of that, a howl was raised when a cargo of Oregon timber arrived, and the company made out that its industry was destined to ruination? The sawmillers, it was contended, have themselves to blame. The price of red pine has been on the upward tendency for some time, and the builders get a poor time of it, for the outside opinion is that if a building cost, .say, £500 15 or 16 years ago, it would cost the same to-day. Tho actual position is that it now means paying 50 per cent, more for material. Let all the Oregon timber come that. America chooses to send, even at a price Is above red pine. It is cheaper to handle, makes a better job for framing, as it stands and does not have a tendency to twist. Houses could be safely plastered, and proprietors, architects, and builders would ■ get more satisfaction out of their work. It is quite possible that the United States and Canada will pass a law prohibiting the exportation of timber. Therefore, let New Zealand get all it can while the opportunity is there. A'timber famino is not far distant, and the New Zealand Government, instead of allowing the settler to cut and burn forests at bis own sweet will, and then a few years later rim a railroad into the district, should take the railroad in first, bring out tho timber, and then invite the 6ettler to settle on the land. Our reporter elicited some interesting facta on the subject' from Mr Gabvie! Hodges, a city building contractor in ai largo .way. It was practically impossible, he said, to get kauri in long lengths or cizes, and the result was that builders had to fall back on Oregon. Hie American timber could bo landed in Australia and Now Zealand in long lengths 50 per cent, cheaper tlia.ii what, kauri costs, and with the former timber there is also a considerable saving in labour in the handling and working of.it. Oregon of a given size is much stronger than either red puio or kauri. Ho would advocate strongly that Oregon bo allowed to come into the Dominion free, and, further, that a heavy export duty be placed on kauri. It was a fact, that, kauri could bo purchased on the Melbourne market and landed hero cheaper than it could be purchased from the timber yards direct. Where rigidity) and strength were essentials, Oregon was preferable to cither red pino or kauri, As to prices, there was not the slightest reason why New .Zealand timbers should be soldi' at the prices that were being demanded to-day. The heavy prices, it was affirmed, were simply the outcome of a sawmillers' ring. Quite recently 8 per cent, wasadded to the cost of all dressed material. A further grievance with local builders was the way in which odd lengths wwc charged for. If, for instance, an lift length, was wanted, a 12ft length had to be paid for. The supply of timber in New Zealand was sufncieijt for our own requirements for many years, but the prioo was altogether too hhjh. That'being the case, builders would certainly re<£^]•nu^nd , straightout that Oregon bo allowed to com© into the Dominion free of duty. One reason why .si«d ceilings and steel dadoes were coming so much into use was that they were much cheaper than our own timbers. Recently, Mr Hodges landed Oregon here from Melbourne at a price which meant a saving of 40 par cent, on what would have had to bo, paid for kauri, with a slightly less saving if rod pine had been purchased. That indicated how our own timbors were being sold, and so long us that continued it would be found that builders would advocate the unrestricted importation of Oregon pine. The sawmillers were agitating 1 for their own protection, and not for the protection of the public. The lowering in price of their own timber would provo a s?lf-.protectivo step.