THE TIMBER TRADE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14447, 13 February 1909, Page 6

THE TIMBER TRADE.

ALLLUF.D RING IN CHIUSTCHUBCH. COMPLAINT OF KXCKSSIVK PRICES. (Fnou Our OwS CoiiHEsroKDr.KT.) OHEISTCIJUEOII, February .12. During the just two days a reporter toured the city and the suburbs seeking out the "email" builders and contractors to obtain their views on the timber trade in Oln fetch urch and the accuracy of the allegation that- there was a. ring in operation among the timber merchants. '1 lie reporter interviewed a- large number of builders, and in almost every case llio opinion was expressed that it ring wit* in existence. Very few of the builders said that they had had no experience to lead them lo believe that a ring existed, but Hone of them denied that there might bo one operating.

One of (.lie builders interviewed said that the charges mode by the merchants were excessive, and the profit's they made were too great. It was unite possible for them to sell timber at a much lower price and still obtain a handsome profit. A few years ago «• firm in Clivistclmveli had sold whits pine for lis to 12s per hundred when the yards in the ring were charging q s more'for'it. Timber that could have been boiisht for Us four years ago was now over. IcVs 6d, and the quality was infirm 1 . The J surah. Company hail implied jarnili and fold it in Christchurch for 17s, but now it wa.s 2os, the ring having bought the business. The same thing had happened lo a Lvttcllon jinn that us«l to laud timber ami sell it at. a reasonable .price. A linn bad sold v.d.l. for lis, and'l he demand for it had been great and had continued even after (he price had been raised lo 12s, but on the November price list v.d.l. wa.s quol«( at 19s. Three months, ago a firm outside the association had «okl Califovnian red wood for 26s when the ring wa.s charging 3os, and had made a good, profit. A little while ago the price of Oregon pine that was not suited tor drawing was reduced by h 6d, but on the same day the prices for hardwoods were increased. Blackwood was raised 2s, totara Is 6d, v.d.l. 2s. "But its the same with all limbers," he said, "the prices have gone up, and as a result there has been a marked falling off in the quantity of building done. It is too expensive for ptoplo'to build now, and a number of contractors find it difficult to get work to tender for. The timber yards must be making very handsome profits. They have very valuable property in the heart of the city, for which the renta.l and other expenses must bo heavy, and they do not need it. Most of the building, work in which timber is extensively used goes on outside the city lfoMKlnrtes'. It would be far more economical for them to havo (hen yards in the suburbs."

Another builder said there \v»;< no doubt that several of the member* of the association wore, interested in the mills on the West Coast, which worked under an agreement with the association, and kept tho prices high.

A third builder said he had experienced no difficulty in obtaining doors and window sashes, because be dealt outside the ring, but if tho association liked to boycott builders dealing with outside firms it could do m en'oelnaily. because it controlled most of the large joinery works, and exercised a certain measure, of control over oth'ji-s owing to its control of tlio timber trade. Ho was extremely doubtful as to whether a public inquiry would have any ksling effect, but i't would certainly reveal to the public that llieve was a ring in Christchurch.