ALLEGED DUMPING OF TIMBER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23365, 3 December 1937, Page 15

ALLEGED DUMPING OF TIMBER

TO THE EDITOR Sir, —I was not a little interested in reading in your issue this morning a statement made by Mr F. L. Turley, of Greymouth, the workers’ agent at a meeting of the Conciliation Council which was dealing with a timber trades dispute. The statement was in reference to a shipment of timber from North America, and it contained the suggestion that the timber is being dumped into the Dominion, to the prejudice of the local timber industry and the workers engaged therein. I think the facts given in reply by Mr G. Cook, employers’ assessor, and confirmed by Mr A. J. Seed, of Wellington. the latter referring, however, more particularly to Japanese oak, are a full and convincing response to Mr Turley. But in order that your readers may appreciate the true position so far as timber from North America and Canada is concerned, I would like to say that I have been handed details respecting the cost of a porition of this timber that is coming to Dunedin. They are as follows: — Home consumption price in Montreal. Canada, £35 4s Id; landed cost in Dunedin £132 13s 7d—which latter figure is made up as follows: Dollars. Canadian value of timber .. .. 174.61 Freight 160.04 Insurance •• •• •• Totalling .. .. .. .. .. .. 336.08 £. s. d. When this Is calculated at the current value of the dollar 4.99, it gives a sterling value of 87 5 10 Exchange and charges .. .. 17 12 3 84 18 1 Duty .. .. 18 J Harbour dues ,•• •• «'« !! Labour sorting and measuring .. 20 0 Cartage 2 13 4 Total .. .. •• • • • • £ 122 13 7 This means. Sir, that on the original current domestic value in Canada it costs our local importers no less than 276 J per cent, to land the timber here, and yet the importer is accused of “dumping” such timber, which, be it added, is essentially necessary for certain classes of local work. Can it be suggested that an even higher rate of duty should be levied m the face of a total protection of 276 J per cent., and this against an Empire,” not a foreign, product, I may add that the shipping companies can hardly be accused of being the “ mugs ” that Mr Turley suggests, when the freight charged is approximately 91 per cent, of the original value.—l am, etc., Interested, Dunedin, November 2.