STEWART ISLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3912, 5 March 1929, Page 24

STEWART ISLAND.

SAWMILL CLOSED DOWN.

INVERCARGILL, March 3.

For the first time in the history of the sawmilling industry in Stewart Island there has been no sawmill actively operating there since last week. The Maori Beach Timber Company has closed down its sawmill for some time. This has been the only mill operating there, although in the past the industry has provided employment for a very large percentage of the small island population. This cessation of work, which affects about 15 men, the majority of whom have established their homes at Stewart Island, and have families dependent upon them, is stated to be only temporary. The reason for the closing down o. the mill, as given to a Southland News reporter by the company’s manager, is that the s.s. Oreti, upon which the company depended for the transport of its timber to Dunedin, where a market had been found for it, has been withdrawn. Should the company be able to procure suitable transport for its products, the mill will be reopened, but the period during which it will remain inactive is, of course, indefi---nite. Thj sawmill hands also engaged in fishing as a means of livelihood, and the position with regard to employment at Stewart Island is rendered doubly precarious by the recent decision of the fish merchants not to accept fish of less than Ilin in size.

Interviewed by a News reporter, Mr H. F. Drewe stated that the Oreti had been withdrawn because there was not sufficient cSTgo offering from the south to Dunedin. The reinstatement of the vessel on the run was dependent on the reopening of the mill at Port Craig. Speaking generally, he added, the timber industry in New Zealand was affected by th ? importation of American timbers.