FOREIGN PREFERENCES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17235, 15 April 1930, Page 10

FOREIGN PREFERENCES

GOVERNMENT PURCHASE AMERICAN TIMBER USED (Per Press Association.) PALMERSTON X.. last night. ‘‘You surprise me.” was a remark made by Mr. J. A. Nash. U.P.. at today's meeting d' 11m M a n:i wal it Oroua Bower Board, when Mr. J. Hmlgens gave information that Hie nrrliitii'Mvos, skirtings, dados, etc., in tlie new Massey College 'building were being put ;in in oregon pine. ‘‘l could quite forgive them for putting in the trusses in oregon pirn', hut there is jiii excuse for this oilier,” added Mr. llodgens. Mr. Nash said: “ When they started working on the Massey College, I wa« invited by people interested in the iiimber trade to make an inspection of ihe t imber being used. We did that and found that the long girders could no| be got in Xew Zealand. They did use Oregon for that particular purpose. and we were satisfied that was a reasonable thing. We had an assurance from tlie man in charge that no other advantage would be taken of New Zealand wood. You rather surprise me to hear that such lias not been the case.” Mr. Hudgens: That is the ease. Mr. A. K Elliott: I think the Minister of Public Works was written 1o by the Palmerston North .Borough 'Council, and he replied'that, he would sec Unit nothing hut New Zealand woods would he used, Mr. Nash: 1 will get into lotmlt with those, people again and ask them to investigate. The Government should not do such a tiling. Mr. .1. Linklater, M.P.: It should set an e.vanijiie. Mr. J". P. .Perreit: The timber yards are full up. .Mr. Elliott: 1 will see that tho matter is not overlooked. All this discussion came as a side, issue to the suggestion bv .Mr. 0. 31 eElruv [hat the Railway Department should, put, freight on imported timber on a purity with that of New Zealand timber. “I think,” said Mr. McElroy, “that it, is a rotten affair that, we should be penalised on railage on the poles were import.” Air. Nash thought that, there was a good deal in what Mr. McElrov had said. This matter had been fought out before with the Railway Department., and sits contention all the, way through had been that it carried New Zealand .timber at the minimum charges, and it was not going to allow the railways to lie used to cart foreign tim her. Air. Elliott thought that there. Was a good, deal to be said on the other side. lie did not think the board should take any action. 'Everything possible should be done, to assist New Zealand timbers. Mr. W. A. Waters pointed, out that the hoard could not get the poles in New Zealand. The remit to he sent to the Power Bounds conference is to apply to poles only.