TWO OPPOSITE VIEWS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12186, 30 March 1909, Page 5

TWO OPPOSITE VIEWS.

SAWMILLER AND HOUSEBUILDi^

INVERCARGILL, March 29. The Timber Commission sat :ili d:iy hearing four witnesses. W. H. Brent, sawniiller, and prp.sidpnt of the Sawmiilers' Assoc'arion, thought the importation of Oregon pine should be retarded and sus^tvted a lighter duty on heavy timber because it was such as could not^be produced in x tho Colony and was wanted fov building;. Heavy dut~ should be placed m» fighter timber. The ciusM" greatly relieve sawmiller?' by extending bush areas that could ty» %ld ro that the mills would be assured k *o'Jffer life. Tho m-Ters could then ado v i. improved , methods by which the cost of production would be lowered. During recent years tho increased cost of timber r.jion, a, house was .only Is per hundr s<i feeir and witness would be astonished to hear that such a slight increase had canted capitalists to refrain from investing money in house building. Andrew Bain, president of vth:> Hmldoro' Association, stated that the rise in the price of timber made a diffe .-"me <>i at least £50 or £60 in the cost of a four or five-roomed cottage. The pvice for rough rimu >&s risen dnfig the last 20 years from 3s 9d to 10s < ti p»r 100 fest. Builders stoutly cppos-1 any increased duty on Oregon it was necessary, being lighter vnd mi.»rtt durable than red pine and becai'so builders got it seasoned and it was impossible to s;et red pine not greei. Ho contended that the Sawinillers' Association ha-1 been formed to raise prices and it had done so.