NEW TARIFF ON TIMBER

Taranaki Daily News, 14 August 1930, Page 13

NEW TARIFF ON TIMBER

IMPORTS OF LONG LENGTHS. effect on building costs. “The Government has not been wise in raising the rate on large sizes and long lengths,” said a leading Auckland timber merchant, when asked his opinion of the new timber duties. “Otherwise, I cannot see much to object to.” The merchant went on to say that the importation of Oregon pine in long lengths could not bo avoided, because New Zealand timber of the same' dimensions was not to be had. Apart from that, importers had every reason for wishing to use local labour in sawing and dressing timber. Another consideration was that by ordering large sizes they knew that they were getting timber from matured trees. His own firm had lately landed one shipment of 100..000ft., comprising only 85 pieces. These ranged from 18in. bv 18in. to 24in. by 24in., and 27ft. to 40ft. in length. In other words, the pieces were all larger than the ordinary New Zealand log. Most of this consignment was intended for sawing—for treatment as logs, in fact. The old rates of 3s. on large sizes and ss. on small left a margin of 2s. in favour of large sizes,” he continued. “The same margin was preserved when the duties were raised to ss. 6d. and 7s. (id. last month, and now with a further 2s. added in each case it is still the same. I do not think this is sound policy. The effect will- simply be to add to the cost of building.” A Royal Commission in 1909 had recommended that no duty should be imposed on large sizes, and that sliding scale duties be put on smaller sizes, but the flat rate of 2s. prevailed until 1927, when the Tariff Commission proposed that the rates be 2s. on large and 4s. on small. The Government, however, made the rates 3s. and ss. respectively. He had no objection to the increased duty on sawn dressed timber, or to that on laths and shingles, which was simply for revenue. The new duty on unworked logs was of no consequence. Except for some oak logs imported during or just after the war, he knew of no timber imported in this form for many years past.