A GLOOMY OUTLOOK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2861, 13 January 1909, Page 66

A GLOOMY OUTLOOK.

MILLS CLOSED INDEFINITELY. PALMERSTOX N.. Jrjnzary 8. There were savj-rail'irjT; representative^ pip^oiil -?l the cor.i-r-cr.ae held at Palm^rston ys-te-rdi-y irom Auckland, the Weist Coact* LrlanJ), Rangitikti, WdiraiApd. Tra-snaki, ?nd Hawke's Bay. The m^e'.inj, which "• -c r.oL open lo tlia press L'Sierl six hor- 1-. Int-ervi-sv-cd at th? cla^e of the proc^.f'ings, a proniineuit nuLler said they woild clc^-c the miljj dcrrn ii definitely as a !•?.!«]t oC t>o n:ee'.liig, which was the mo3l rci-ie^optstive gathering of fcaivmillsi's crtr held lioe, and grobably ever heM iv Xcw Zealand. There were fully 100 mills represent-ed, averaging 20 men ea' h. The conference was held to consider the adviiabdlity of reopening some of the closed mills, but as a rccnlt of the discussion it was considered that fully 50 mUls should close indefinitely, affecting, at a modest estimate, 1000 nien. The output at the other milla would be restricted. The mnin factors in tlie decision ar? the wholesale importation of Oregon Blue and the stringency of the money market. It is suggested that the Governnifcii't should fix a dimenision tariff as one solution of the difficulty, and also make the import duty on Oregon pine the same a? the .export duty on whit© pine.