SUPPLIES OF TIMBER.

Otago Witness, Issue 3911, 26 February 1929, Page 14

SUPPLIES OF TIMBER.

EDUCATION BOARD’S COMPLAIN! .

The remarks made by members of the Otago Education Board a month ago when the architect reported that supplies of suitable timber could not be obtained for the erection of school buildings caused some concern among timber merchants, and as a result a deputation from the Dunedin Timber Merchants’ Association waited upon the board at its meeting last week to make its position clear. The members were Messrs W. H. Brent, K. S. “amsay, and \. J. Allen. “'We just want to put ourselves right,” said Mr Brent, who was the first speaker. The members of ;he deputation were both millers and merchants, but it seemed that the board members during the discussion had been mixed on the question whethed the merchants or sawmillers were responsible. The architect’s report had stated that th- contractor who was building the Cromwell School had tried to obtain suitable timber, but had been unsuccessful. The actual position was, however, that there was a plentiful supply, and the merchants who could have given the contractor the material had not been asked for it. It was natural, therefore, that they felt a little aggrieved. The architect had suggested the use of Oregon weatherboarding, but this might be of any class, and, in any case, it was “ not a patch on red pine.” The speaker referred to a clause in the report which stated that the sawmillers failed lamentably when entrusted with an order for the better class of timber. The position was, he said, that the sawmiller supplied the green timber, a..d it was stored by the merchants, -who could supply it in good order and condition, though the price might be a little dearer. When the report had been published there had been sufficient timber in stock in Dunedin for four or five schools. The merchants therefore felt that an injustice had been done. In the report it had been stated that the merchants had failed to supply timber of the quality specified for the Tainui School, and that 70 per cent, of the dressed lines had been rejected, but, as a matter of fact, no merchant had had anything to do with the matter. The order had been placed with a sawmill in Southland. In conclusion, he expressed surprise at the fact that the board had use! timber from a foreign and unfriendly country. He had been told that children sat at desks made < f foreign timber. Mr R nsay endorsed the remarks of the previous speaker. Mr Allen stated that the Federation of Timber Merchants intended to take the matter up with the Government. If the contractors were not obtaining the specified timber it was time the board did its own building. The chairman (Mr J. Wallace) : I suppose you have had some timber sent back to you?

Mr Allen : Yes, and it was afterwards sent" to the Public Works Department, which stated that it was the best heart timber that it had ever had. The chairman explained that in the ordinary course of events the report would have been taken in committee, but as the building of two schools was being held up the board considered that the matter should be brought before the notice of the public. Had the members of the deputation been in a similar position they would have done the same. The board did not wish to be unfair to anyone.

Mr J. Mitchell said that the discussion had been based on the facts before the board, and they were very, very plain. He suggested that the difficulty might be overcome if the merchants supplied periodical statements to the board showing bow much of the timber would be available if required. The contractors could then be given the information. Mr Brent: A very good idea. Mr J Horn said that the merchants should be grateful to the board for bringing the matter up. They should now put their heads together and see that the timber was supplied.