THE TIMBER TRADE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2856, 9 December 1908, Page 25

THE TIMBER TRADE.

MILLS CLOSING DOWN. MASTERTON, December 4. Owing to the reduced demand for tim« ber at prevailing prices, the timber trust* have decided to close their sawmills for the time being. The mills in this district belonging to the Wairarapa Sawmillers' Association have notified their employees that work will be stopped in a lew days. A considerable number of joiners and carpenters being just now out of work, the depression in the building trade is being felt by tradesmen acutely. INVERCARGILL, December 4. In accordance with a resolution passed last month, the sawmills in Southland; i will be closed down to-morrow. About 35 mills, employing upwards of 700 men, will be affected. The mills are being closed this year about a fortnight earlier than usual in consequence of the slacknessin trade. The date of reopening has not been definitely fixed.' MILLS CLOSING DOWN. . P"rom Oxtb Owh Cobbestondejit.) GREYMOUTH, December 7. All the sawmills on. the West Coast ar« closing down a fortnight earlier than usual this season owing to the slackness ot orders for the, local timber. There i» no date given for the reopening of the mills, but in any case they will not be opening, till fully &. week aite* New Year, and. then, it mil be doubtful if many will reopen*. That mean* 5 that fully 35 mßa wdlr foe closed down for over tfctf&e weefea.- | A* they employ on -an average 16 men < 1 each, wfiose wages range from 9b a day) for afeboers to I4s for benebmen, or art average all round of 11s a day, this means a loss of earning power of £1980 a week, or, roughly, a total loss of wages earned during the three weeks during which the. [mills will be closed doiva of over £6000.