WHITE PINE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21431, 4 September 1931, Page 11

WHITE PINE

AUSTRALIAN CONTROVERSY ' TIMBER MEN PROTEST. ~ (From Odb Own Correspondent.):. V , SYDNEY, August 2D, , The controversy concerning the use t of New Zealand white pine in Australia has not been one-sided, though it must he admitted that those who would have the importation of the timber prohibited have had the most to say so far; These people have pointed to the enormous loss that has bean occasioned by,the use of white pine, but there is reason to believe that they have exaggerated the' statements as to the amount of timber used in building operations. In fact, there is just a suspicion that the whole controversy has been engineered by those who would prevent the importation not only of New Zealand white pine, but of all New Zealand timbep. It is only another instance of the propaganda against New Zealand goods which is so often ventilated. One time it is directed against butter, then against cheese, then against bacon and hams, and So on, and it is significant that in each case mentioned the tariff wall has been so heightened as to make’ the importation almost negligible. . ■ , Mr A, E. Heath, president of the Sydney and Suburban Timber Merchants’ Association, describes the condemnation of New Zealand white pine as “fanatical.’ He goes on J*—" The timber trade in Sydney has a very shrewd idea that the main critic is the head of a small body Of fanatics with an axe to grind, and this is but another of the tedious number of outbreaks on his part. My t company has been handling white pine timber for the last <SO years. Ten years ago it was in general use, but to-day in actual building its use is negligible. During the whole of that period only on one' Occasion was •white pine found in our yards to be borer infested, and then it did not affect a Quantity of 200 feet. It is advanced that borers develop after placing timber in use. That does occur in some cases in the same way as OUl’ OWh borer pests in our own timbers. “New Zealand rimu, which is not attacked by the supposed authority, is selling in the Sydney market at 16 per cent, cheaper than white pine. It is true our colonial pines are dearer, but until the terrific slump which has occurred in the building trade in the last two ; years became apparent, it was utterly impossible to get the supply required. This is evidenced by the fact that Queensland (the home of the greatest supply of hoop pine in Australia) in 1020 actually prohibited its export to other States until my own company took legal action by the issue of a High Court writ which Caused. Queensland to back down and pay all expenses. Much the same position applies in New South Wales. In normal times there is no possibility whatever .of obtaining adequate supplies of soft wood timber suitable for lining and shelving. The same fanatical crowd that are attacking New Zealand white pine have been successful in having duties imposed On soft Wood timbers (against all Tariff Board recommendations) to such an extent that the Australian public now pays, including freight, exchange, duty, primage, and other charges, a total of 26s fid on an article which costs 4s fid, f.0.b., American ports, and to this selling expenses and profit must be added. New Zealand timbers are free. Do they wish the same slug to be imposed in that direction? The Forestry Commissioners’ statement that the soft wood mills are closed down is correct. Everything in the timber industry is closed down, and the flow of all classes of timber. Whether imported or local, is governed by the law of supply and demand. The commission would be the first to admit the inability of the New South Wales mills to supply the soft wood demands of the State.”