WEST COAST TIMBER TRADE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2914, 19 January 1910, Page 18

WEST COAST TIMBER TRADE.

SUCCESSION OF OBSTACLES. (Faoii Our Own Cokp.espoxde:??.) GREYMOUTH, January 12. Monday next, January 17, is the date set clown by the West Coast Trading Company for the resumption of operations at the various associated mills. In conversation with a prominent miller, a Star representative gleaned the information that so far no ordere are to hand, but that it is confidently anticipated that some will come to hand by the next mail, thus enabling a start to be made on orders on Monday next. Questioned as to the general outlook, the miller reolied that it certainly was not too blight, but that he had great hopes for an. early hnpvovement. In support of this prophecy lie mentioned the general brightening of trade prospects throughout the Dominion. With a return to normal trade conditions and with money free he thought that they could look forward to an increased demand for West Coast timber. A matter which is causing the West Coast sawmillers a great deal of concern at the present time was mentioned at the meeting of the Grey Harbour Board. It was stated that the 'fact that the export of timber last year had fallen 20 million superficial feet was in itself a serious matter, but what was of move concern to the millers than that was the shrinkage in. the value of their product. Yet, in the face of all these troubles, _ a most harassing move had been made by the Railway Department —viz., to charge the freight on the actual size of the timber instead of by invoice measurement, to allow of shrinkage, .climatic conditions, ■etc. The local millers had to “overcut” their Australian orders, so that the timber was invariably of a larger size than that specified. For many years it had been the habit to charge freight on the invoice size of timber. The Railway Department, however, altered this, and for some time had been charging on the actual measurement as it left the mills. Now, to make matters worse, the Union Company came to the determination! to follow the lead of the Railway Department, and to charge by actual measurement instead of by invoice. This decision had a most detrimental effect on their Australian market, which they were striving to preserve. The effect of the altered system of charging freights would mean an increase of about 7d per 100 ft in the changes against the millers, who were already handicapped. The Minister of Mines was appealed to, and he agreed with the deputation that its request that the extra charge should be forgone was a reasonable one. Mr E. A. Wickes (secretary to the local Timber Association) proceeded to Duniedan to-day to. make a similar request to the Union Company.