THE TIMBER COMMISSION.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12546, 24 May 1909, Page 3

THE TIMBER COMMISSION.

EVIDENCE OF SORE DISTRESS.

A FAMILY ON THE VERGE OF STARVATION. [United Pbess Association.] Wellington, May 22. At the Timber Commission's sittings to-day', Mr Jennings read letters just received from a man and his wife who seated they- were on the verge of starvation. They had a dying child, and. were compelled to beg a bij> of fat from a neighbour to make a K lamp to prevent struggling' ing tho dark to get the child whatever they could catch for her. The man. was unable to get work, even' though he offered to work for _ food only. Mr Jennings asked the " witness before the Commission if these letters represented the actual .'state of affairs' among the workers/ along the main trunk line. The reply was to the effect that the position set out ■was not overdrawn.- -■'-','■••■ Charles Huttqn, contractor at : Tai-hapej-drew a pitiful sketch of the condition of the timber' workers in his district. The cost or> living all along the main trunk line- was exceptionally high,, and married men felt the distress most keenly. He considered'the importations' of Oregon pine, the principal cause of: the dis^ tress/ The "railway being „ finished there was no other work, for'them. To Mr Jennings: The children have clothes made' out of flour bags. ' Henry Donovan . of Taihape; gave evidence from the workers'^ view point. He thought tho prices of timbe*. might be regulated by legislation in. order to protect the consumers. • Oregon" pine should be shut out. ;■.'. . To Mr Jennings: If land was thrown open to the men out of work at/Tai- ■??' rr ey would glad to get it. Mr Hutchesori, railway storekeeper at JPotpne, sa.id= The inillais itia Oeert slow in. sunpiyiug tho GovgwVment orders to his Gopartmcnt, and 1 no do\ibt the 'test that- timber had to undergo had something ,to do with it. Jarrah had to be -imported in large quantities. The native: timbers could not be used for bridge- "work Alexander Campbell,' builderV He advocated the f reo . importatiqn of Oregon pine, which was much cheaper and better id work than' the native timbers for house building.