SAWMILLERS' CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 82, 26 March 1908, Page 3

SAWMILLERS' CONFERENCE.

The conference of delegates from the affiliated sawinillers' associations in ihe Dominion concluded its business yesterday, and at night the delegates were the guests of the Taranaki Association at a dinner at the Troeadero. After "The King" had been loyally honored, Mr. Spurdle (Wanganui) proposed ''The Parliament of New Zealand." He was sure that no constituency or group of constituencies deserved better of Parliament or Government than the Taranaki group. He referred to the great development of the dairying industry in this province, and said that no industry had done so much for the Dominion. Some of the dairy farmers had been sufferers from the recent bush fires, and he was glad that the Government had done tlm right thing in coming to their assistance. What about poor millers who were burnt out? How were they to be recompensed? By a rise in the price of timber"? The one way of obviating that was for the Government to reduce the railway freights on timber. The chairman made some eulogistic remarks concerning New Plymouth streets, electric light, water and drainage systems, and the very general indications of prosperity, concluding by proposing the health of the Borough Council, coupled with the name of his Worship the Mayor, who replied. Mr. Geo. Syme, junr., proposed ''The Timber Merchants." The aiwmilling industry, he said, was recognised to l>e a dying one, aud it behoved the millers to make the best tbev could of it while it lasted.

Mr. Austin (I'etone) responded. In order to best follow out the suggestion of Hie proposer, he thought the millers should all put their supplies through an a ssoci,ition. He considered the conference yiould take some strong action in regard to the neceSary lowering of railway freights. Ho referred to the turmoil which arose from the millers' frequent increases in the price of timber, und said there was every likelihood of a demand from the public to the Government to reduce the duly on imported timber. The heavy price of timber was largely due to the excessive freight charges. The freight between Taihape and Wellington was nearly twice as expensive as between Sydney and Wellington.

Mr. H. Brown proposed ''The Visiting Sawniillers." Taranaki claimed the honor of having the first sawmfllers' association, and the movement had spread as its benefits were made known. He coupled with the toast the name of Mr. Walter Bayly, one of the oldest millers in the North Island. Mr. Bayly said the millers for many years had been working their mills for the timber merchants' benefit. Now they were going to start working for their own. He did not believe that the indust-ry was a dying one* —it had mauy active years yet before it.

Mr. I>. Bartholomew (Levin) 3 poke in a similar strain. Ho considered Hie cry of American competition was only a bugbear. Mr. Ellis (South Auckland) said few people had any idea of the amount of timber to be brought over the North Island Main Trunk railway. And the idea that the North Auckland bush was cut out was entirely erroneous. In fact, the sawmilling industry was "in its lu-ty youth. 1 '

Mr Morris, the West C»ast of the South Island," also eumhaltcd tin- '"(lying industry" theory. lie had. however, boon vevy disappointed with the Waimarino forests along the North Island Main Trunk line. Mr. ft. Bartholomew (Hawku's Bay) and Mr. A. Seed (Wairarapa) acknowledged the hospitality of the Taranaki Association. The chairman proposed "The Builders,'' the sawmillers' best consumers. Mr. R. W. Bond responded. Mr. P. Bartholomew, iu connecting the names of Messrs Snowball and Aider with the toast of '"The Taranaki Association," paid a high tribute to their integrity and business ability, his remarks being based on experience. Messrs Snowball and Ahiev replied. Other toasts were "Secretaries of Associations," "The Ladies," "The Press of New Zealand," "The Host and Hostess," "The Musicians," and "The Chairman."

During the evening songs were contributed by Messrs A. Seed, .1. H. Thomson, W. Perry, and G. Bartholomew. Air. A. E Golding played the ments"Auld Lang Syne" concluded the proceedings.