THE TIMBER TRADE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20433, 13 June 1928, Page 10

THE TIMBER TRADE.

MEANS TO RELIEVE DISTRESS. SUGGESTIONS BY AUCKLAND UNION. (Special to Daily Times.) AUCKLAND, June 12. A long discussion on the means to relieve the distress at present existing in the New Zealand timber trade took place at a special meeting of the Auckland Timber Workers’ Union to-day. The union was more particularly concerned with the position of country 'vvorkers in the smaller townships where the mills had closed down and men with dependants were unable to find employment. In the opinion of the meeting the Government should be urged to spend money on relief works in the country as well as in the city by providing reading and other necessary improvements which would benefit settlers as well as those seeking employment. The speakers also considered that the present condition of the industry had been brought about by the importation of foreign timber without sufficient restraint. The following resolutions were adopted : (1) “ That this meeting respectfully requests that immediate steps should be taken to assist those engaged in the timber industry.” (2) ‘‘That the Government be called upon to take immediate steps to prohibit the importation of sawn timber under the size of 12in by 12in, or its equivalent.” (3) “ That in order to relieve distress and render assistance to timber workers in the various country sawmill centres the Government be asked to provide works under an unemployment scheme, such work if possible to be adjacent to sawmilling townships, thus enabling those in dire distress to provide for their dependants.”