SAWMILLING INDUSTRY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3818, 17 May 1927, Page 76

SAWMILLING INDUSTRY.

SLACK PERIOD IN AUCKLAND,

AUCKLAND, May 10. Three large Auckland sawmills have decided to cease milling operations unEd further notice on two days of the week, Friday and Saturday. Nearly 400 workers will be affected. The reasons given for this step are the effect on the trade of the restrictions on export, the extent of importations of foreign timbers, the operation of the city by-law respecting the use of ordinary building timber, and the general slackness that has been noted in the industry. A conference of the representatives of about 15 of the city mills met this afternoon to discuss the situation, and 'while the decision to close on two days was not unanimous there was a fairly general agreement that much shorter time would, have to be worked. The firms which decided to cease operations on two days were: The Parker, Lamb Timber Co., the Kauri Timber Co., and the Leyland, O'Brien Timber Co. The cessation is restricted to mill work, and the concerns will take orders and make supplies as usual. These firms and others which are slackening operations in various ways have accumulated large stocks, and this necessitates an easing off in production. In addition to the town workers the brush employees will also be affected. Several mills in the King Country are reported to have been working a 40 hours’ week for some time. “One bright side of the situation, remarked a principal of one of the firms, “is that possibly there will be some tangible result of the Government conferences regarding the various aspects of our difficulties. including the introductoin of a Dominion law respecting the local body regulations concerning 0.8. timber.