TIMBER DUTIES

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13973, 6 August 1909, Page 3

TIMBER DUTIES

.VUST.RALIAXS WANT LNX'IIEASKS

Oue day last month a deputation representing various branches of the timber iudustry was introduced to the Australian Minister for Customs (Sir Itebert Best) by Mr Fisher, M.H.K. Mr li. A. Itebertson, who spoke on behalf of Victoria, New South Wales and Xasmanian millers, said that the industry was «u a very depressed state, and an increase of Umber duties generally was urgent. In Tasmania recently 500 hands had been discharged. Oregon timber could be liroiight from the I'acilie Coast, ol .America, and sold in Australia as cheap as, if not cheaper, than local Umber. The Western Australian jarrah industry was affected by the low price of Oregon. The existing duty was not sufficient to protect Australian tiTumors against white pine and kauri from New Zealand, upon which the duty was only Cd per 100 ft. Mi- Harvey (Millar's Karri and .Jarrah Company) urged a revision of the whole of the timber duties, and _ his suggestion was supported by Mr Saunders (Victorian sawmillers). Senator 'Do Liirgie said the hardwood trade in Western Australia had never been in a more nourishing condition. Mr MeWillmms said that the position in Tasmania was simply calamitous, and the State Government had to Jind relief work for discharged timber workers. A. high duty was on the goods they consumed, and ii. ought to apply ;iil round. ! Sir J.'obert .Uesi, replying to ihe deputation, said that very few arguments Juki been used, which had not been before Parliament when the duty was fixed. The existing duty . was the best bargain the Government had been able to make, after vigorous lighting. Oregon had previously been free, and they had tried to put Is 6d duty on, but only secured 6d. In the circumstances, they had to take things as they found them. Was it possible to make successful proposals fur increases to the same Parliament that- had fixed the duties. Would it not be a sheerwaste of time to try ? There seemed lo bo no common agreement in the timber trade, some of whose representatives had stated to his'department a little while ago that iMhe duty were 1 increased they could not meet half the demand, and'the best assistance to the iiidustrv would be a bounty. Ho ira-

very .sorry lo lic;ir of the depressed condition' of -"the industry in some States, but glad to know ttiat Western Australia was all right. He did not want to buoy them up with hopes ol what appeared impossible, but could assure inchi that wiien tanil' anomalies were investigated their representations would receive the fullest consideration.