THE TIMBER SHORTAGE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 11928, 23 October 1919, Page 8

THE TIMBER SHORTAGE.

Per Press Association,

Auckland, Oct. 22. Acute shortage of timber is having a serious effect at present on building and kindred trades. During the curtailment of the railway services the scarcity of timber was enough to hold up some important building operations. With the resumption of •normal train services, matters have ■not improved, Cne well known ■contractor stated that there were at present no dry stocks of timber in Auckland, aud that the position generally seemed to be getting worse daily. As a result of the dearth of dry timber, the, joinery aud furpiture industry was being badly handicapped as it was impossible to carry out good joiner}' with wet timber. The direct cause of the shortage of timber was 'the scarcity of labour. Whatever the reason might be, it was certainly true that labour was not offering for the timber-felling business. He considered that the only remedy was encouragement of immigration. Referring to the above our representative this morning interviewed Mr J. A. Bosh, chairman of Rangitikei Sawmillers’ Association, who stated that so far as Main Trunk millers were concerned everything was being done that could be done to relieve shortage. The output of Kangitikei Association last mouth was pearly 4,000,000 ft. timber as compared with 2% million feet for same month last year. So far as railway service is concerned the Auckland message is quite at fault, as the Railway Department are doing all they possibly can to transport timber. In support of this he stated that for six weeks immediately after railway cut was removed, from August 24th to October 6th,Jraiiways lifted from Main Trunk mills million feet of timber, an increase of 4,000,000 feet over the corresponding period last year. Since October 6th the railway figures' have increased and they are now lifting approximately one thousandjwaggons of timber per week—approximately 2% to 3 million feet weekly. The supply of waggons is plentiful and of these the millers are taking full advantage. Farther lie wished to state so far as his Association was concerned no building timber had been exported from any of their mills.