THE TIMBER COMMISSION.
(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. At a sitting of the Timber Commission to-day evidence was continued. W.H. Bennett, builder and contractor, of Wellington, representing the Executive of the New Zealand Federated Builders' Association, said that owing to the delay and the difficulty m obtaining the native article for roofing and joisting, it was absolutely necessary that Oregon should > be admitted free of duty. Oregon had the advantage .over local timber, as it did not tak* 'the borer. Kauri ha<J become almost unobtainable m Wellington. A few lengths the other day cost Mm 37s 6d per 100 ft, as against 31s 6d m Sydney. Outsiders were getri ting our timber cheaper than thos« m the Dominion. An increased exnqrt duty should be placed on kauri. The Teal cause of the millers' trouble was slackness of trade and .tightness m the money market. Importation of Oregon had not affected the building trade very much. Oregon was not suitable for outside building. Verbal threats had been, made by merchants that if builders purchased direct from millers they would be allowed only 2£ per cent., instead of 74 per cent. Two persons had had their names removed from the discount list on this account. The cost of building^ it present was too high for th© wqrkwig man. Witness did not favor the establishment of a State mill. All things being' equaj, he favored New Zealand timber. Oregon had been stocked here to fill a long-felt want. Timber supplies, no far as, prices were concerned, were* not on a satisfactory, basis. The Government should take more vigorous stepst'in the direction of afforestation - W. L. Thompson, representing . the Wellington Builders and Contractors' Association, said that the slackness m the milling trade was not due to: the, importation of Oregon pine, but to the high land values and high interest charges, which had stopped speculation. His Association wanted the. duty on Oregon abolished. ,
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Bibliographic details
Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11857, 22 May 1909, Page 3
Word Count
320THE TIMBER COMMISSION. Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11857, 22 May 1909, Page 3
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