FOREIGN TIMBER SHOULD PAY MORE

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 150, 15 September 1927, Page 11

FOREIGN TIMBER SHOULD PAY MORE

SAWMILLERS ON TARIFF SOME PROTECTION GAINED Press Association WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Mr. Arthur Seed, secretary of the Dominion Federated Sawmillers’ Association, to-day expressed himself gratified that the Government had at last given the timber industry some measure of reasonable protection, although the amount of increase was not quite as much as had been hoped for. The actual increases scarcely made good the additional burden of railway freights which, since 1917, had increased by approximately 2s per 100 superficial feet, and the average royalties had increased fully Is 6d per 100 feet. Nevertheless, raising the Customs barrier to even this small extent should at least place New Zealand sawmillers in the same competitive position with the foreigner that they held prior t# 1917. Mr. Seed was disappointed that no additional barrier had been placed against timbers coming from U.S.A. and other foreign countries, as agairst those coming from other British sources. He was also disappointed that American oak was still allowed on the free list. It was a serious competitor with the lower-grade timbers, and was very prone to borer attack, he said.