PRICE OF TIMBER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17327, 29 May 1918, Page 8

PRICE OF TIMBER

INCREASE IN WELLINGTON.*" (Faoii Ooa Own CoBUEapoNDK-rr j WELLINGTON, May 28. An announcement is miide that tho price of timber is again to bo raised in Wellington, and it seems probable that the increases will, bo gnnerol. binco the big fires at Raetihi in which a number of tho bign-est nulls m tho North Island wero destroyed, there has been a marked shortage of timber borne lines have been in such short supply as to bo practically unobtajnable. For instance, black pino or matai, which is used iu Wellington not only for flooring but for the weather boardyig of houses, is obtainable seasoned only from ono or two mills in the Nelson district. When the northern mills were burned out there was a scramble for timber with which to rebuild such of/ them as were to bo reopened and dealers who had lost all their stocks ruslicd to obtain as much timber as could bo secured. This extraordinary demand, and the short supnly, ha.v O caused two or three recent increases in tho prico of all lines of timber. There is also a largo unsatisfied demand from Australia, at prices which are said to be even better than those being charged here. There is no chasco of tho position improving because of tho shortage o f labour at the mills. Other buildmg requisites are not only very costly but very difficult to obtain. Permits for the exportation of white lead are being given very sparingly.