THE TIMBER COMMISSION.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12500, 29 March 1909, Page 3

THE TIMBER COMMISSION.

[United Press Association.] Invercatgill, March 27. "The Timber Commission sat to-day to take evidence. E. A. Leary, the secretary of the Otago and. Southland Sawmillers' Association, _ stated the Association was. formed in 1907 with fifteen representing 21 mills] out of a total of 73 mills in the district. One i object of the Association was .to maintain uniform prices. There were now. eighteen members. There were no penalties for breaches. '. The' Association never asked outside mills to join. There had, been resolutions limiting the output, which had Jately- been cut down one-third or more, ihe mills being overstocked. It was not done for the purpose of . rais- : ing- the prices v . The Association did not work in concert with the Northern bodies..> „ '.--.• : - ..- : r . J. Hensley, the managing director of the Southland Ttmber Company, said the cost of production varied according to the nature of the country. To get the cost an average- must be struck, which was 8s to 8s 6d, • . fifty . ; ■: per ' cent representing wages paid. A difficulty was the short life of a bush area, the average being about six years. The cost of a sawmill capable of cutting 100,000 feet per; month would be £3000, and after six years- use the plant would be worth £700. , Eough ' timber sold in Invercargill at 7s 9d; and first-class 9s to 9s 6d per 100 feet. In 1907 an increase of 9d p_er 100 feet was made, because of the in•creased. cost : of getting the timber, and higher wages being paid; /Oregon pine importations did not affect South--land appreciably. -The one .: shilling per 100 feet profit the sawmillers got for their'timber was' not- sufficient, considering the risks ..-run; Timber could be broughVfrom. the Baltic at . the same. cost as-timber conveyed from; : Riverton to-Mosgiel. : The greatest' bulk of the;,timber sold in Invercar- ' giU was birch, obtained from : the Western .district. :: „..,:.