IMPORTED TIMBER.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13658, 29 July 1908, Page 4

IMPORTED TIMBER.

At present there is a. rather lively agitation among the sawmillers of the colony to get the duty on Oregon pine increased* as they maintain that it comes severely into competition with New Zealand timbers. The Premier has heard various (sides of the question, but wants to hear more so that he can "arrive at the causs of the tremendous increase in the cost ot bcmanig in New Zealand." There will ' be many who will wish the Premier sucj cess in this investigation, for both owner* and occupiers of houses have for some years had a strong desire to know the reason of the great increase in the cost) of building. The forests of New Zealand are by no means worked out; •in fact it was just the other day that Wellington papers recorded the opening up of one of the largest timber areas in the colony, and the vast possibilities of other areas tapped by the north trunk line of railway. Then, too, comes the news this week that malls on the »*est Coast with, a command of large forests are idle. It was on the West Coast that the agitation against imported timbers' arose, and all the blame for want of orders was laid on Oregon pine. ; f - Iti will be seen from the report if .the interview' yesterday with the Premier, that the builders take quite an opposite view to that taken • by the millers. There are at present two varieties of timber imported to the colony—Oregon pine and jarrah—and for certain purposes in the construction of buildings, tnere is no class of timber in New Zealand that can take their place. Where great strength is requisite jarrah is used; where lightness, combined with durability, is a. prime factor, Oregon stands supreme. The use of these foreign timbers does not, however, account for the increase in the cost, of buildings, for they play but § small part in their construction, and cannot take the place of the bulk of the materials used in builders' and joiners' work. This brings the present agitation down to the Premier's desire to arrive at the true facts. Wellington is not singular in thai) contracts are being carried out.'in brick in preference to timber. The same Ini.jljy is obtaining in Timaru where we are told that it is "cheaper to build in brick." The whole position is most extraordinary; mills on the one hand are idle, whilst 6ft the other the demand for building in tim:ber. is,.daily-growing smaller.. It is. & position that -calls!' as tie Premier 'j»y?» for careful and exhaustive enquiry.