The Timber Industry.

Waikato Argus, Volume XXV, Issue 3944, 24 November 1908, Page 2

The Timber Industry.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night.

In the course of an interview tonight, replying to remarks by Mr Massey, the Prime Minister said it was exceedingly unfair to attempt to embitter timber workers by declaring that the Government had subsidised a ship to bring timber to New Zealand. The steamers coming to New Zealand were subsidised entirely by Canada, and those going from the Dominion were subsidised so as to benefit our farmers.

The cost of timber was so high, Sir Joseph Ward added, that men of small means could not build homes, and he proposed to set up a Commisis no to inquire into the whole timber question. This would enable the Government to find a remedy. He fully leognised that our sawmilling industry should be helped legitimately. Taumarunui, Last Night. A well-attended meeting of the sawmill employees was held in the Town Hall on Saturday night, eveiy mill in the district being represented. Mr T. McKean presided. The position of the workers has reached an acute stage, owing to the large importations of Oregon pine, especially at a time when money is very tight and trade dull. The demand for locs. I timber is fast disappearing, and the mills are reducing their output, working part time only. The men will thus lose from two to three days a week. A deputation was appointed to proceed to Wellington and place the position before the Prime Minister.

There are over 500 persons employed in the immediate vicinity of Manunui and Taumarunui, receiving in wages about £SOOO per month. It the mills are closed down, the effect will be far-reaching and disastrous to the district, and especially to the workers, a large number of whom are married men. Independent of the amount stated, which hj paid in wages to sawmill employees, over £IO,OOO has been spent by the local mills on tramways within the last year or two.

It was pointed out by some of the speakers that according to the Government returns sawmilling was the largest industry in the Dominion, nearly 6000 persons being employed, and receiving £504,000 in wages, while it pays more in wages per pound of capital invested than any other industry in the Dominion.