A HARD YEAR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 183, 5 August 1933, Page 15

A HARD YEAR

FALL IN PRODUCTION FEDERATED SAWMILLERS SIGNS OF IMPROVEMENT. At the annual conference of the Dominion Federated Sawmillers ’ Association, which was opened at Wellington by the Minister in Charge of the Forestry Department (the Hon. E. A. Ransom), in company with the Director ot Forestry (Mr. A. D. McGavock), delegates agreed that the year had been one of the most disastrous over experienced, but that at last there seemed to be some slight signs of an improvement in the industry. The decline in timber production during the year ended May 31 1933, is referred to in the annual report as follows:—“During tli6 year under review* the serious plight of the sawmilling industry is well realised by consideration of the recorded statistics relative to timber production. At time of our last annual meeting it was estimated (based on railway loadings) that the total production for 1931-32 woulc be about 120,000,000 ft. b.m., but the definite statistics later published disclosed a production for that year of 154,000,000. By carefully-prepare J and revised estimate of production fur the year 1932-33 the production is calculated as having been almost exactly the same quantity as the previous year. This but illustrates tho fact that (luring the year the industiy has remained in the lowest depths of stagnation, and at tho close of the year there was little sign of improvement. The production figure of the past year, 154, 000,000 ft. b.m., represents a decline from the peak year .1925-26 (353,000,000) of 56 per cent. Such result is not to be wondered at when we contemplate the recorded statistics relative to building activity throughout the Dom inion for these same years for the value of building operations for 193233, £2,474,868, was the lowest recorded during the 12 years for which figures arc available; and this meagre total of tho whole building activity far the year is but 221 per cent, of the value of the building work during the peak year of building m 1926-27 (£11,019, 389). In other words, since 1926-27 the sawmilling industry, besides suffering a disastrous pi ice decline, has actually been deprived of 77A per cent, of the market that was available to it but live years previously. From records and statistics made available it is disclosed that the percentage of time actually worked in the sawmill’ of New Zealand for the year 1932-33 fluctuated from month to month at from 41 per cent, to 49 per cent, of normal average. A Heroic Struggle. “The struggle requisite tu survive under such circumstances can bode scribed by no other word than ‘heroic.’ The only consolation is that the consumption that would normally take place has not been erased, but post poned Practically the only timber of any appreciable volume of output that foil ml reasonably ready market during the year was white pine, and by a commendable measure of co* operation the millers in the main producing district, of this species have been able to retain a price level which has at least enabled them to continue

producing without undue depletion of capital resources. This has been the one least gloomy spot in the price situation ol the year. “Efforts have been continued to achieve more complete co-operation between the sawmillers and tho timber merchants, but due to continuation of meagre demand these efforts have noi attained much headway except in one main district, Canterbury. “The .imports of timber for tho year (to the end of December) continue to show a substantial decline, but there is little consolation in this fact, as tho decrease has undoubtedly mainly been duo to the same depression factors which have hit our own industry so hard; though no doubt tho increased Customs duties enacted in 1930 served as an additional check, and in so far as this has been the case our thanks are due to the Government for the measure of protection afforded. “From the drop in timber export figures for 1931 and the subsequent lisc for 1032, there would seem to be reasonable grounds to assume that we have passed the worst stage of the depression as affecting our export trade, and this is a matter of material satisfaction. “We record our thanks and appreciation to the Minister of Employment, and the Unemployment Board for the measure of assistance given to the export of rimu, beech, matai, ,and tawa by way of subsidy on exchange during part of tho period that the rate was so adverse to our export trade. There is no duubt that this arrangement had a distinct influence in stimulating the increased export for 1932 and concurrently creating greater employment in our mills. It is satisfactory to know that a further slight increase (with trifling variation in some species) is maintained in tho total exports for the first quarter of 1933. Unemployment in Industry. “Unemployment created in the sawmilling industry as a result of the de cline m timber consumption has been the subject of the gravest concern ot' the federation and its members throughout tho past year and more, and the problem of devising means whereby this condition might bo alleviated has been most prominently in the thoughts of all concerned during the period. With a view to securing some means to improve the situation, the federation has maintained close contact with the Unemployment Board and its ofiicers, and was enabled to exorcise some influence in the institu’. ing of the building subsidy scheme of 1932 and the framing of processes thereunder. Undoubtedly tho scheme was responsible for a distinct measure of improvement in timber demand and < : I--nl enipioynient. nt the mills There is a distinct satisfaction in the knowledge that, since the close of our year, tho scheme has been reinstituted on a liberalised scale, and that—at time of .writing this report—it has al ready achieved a really wonderful measure of success in the direction so much to be desired.” Officers Elected. The ofiicers for the current yea' were appointed as follows:—-President, Mr. J. A. Bush (Marton); vicc-prc sident, Air. D. Tcnncnt; executive coin mil tec, Messrs. II Valdor and 11. Thompkins (Hamilton), L. E. 11. Baigent (Nelson), 8. H. Mari is (West port), J. Mclntyre (Orcpuki, South land), and R. Bauchop (Tokanui. Southland). One representative re mains to be selected for the Westland group of mill?

The guard of a train held up by floods in Arkansas, United States, milked a cow travelling in a truck n«xi his van and supplied the stranded passengers with refreshment for 24 hours. Eighty monks recently left Rangoon to convert the peoples of Europe 1o ' Buddhism, They will wear ?< bes made i of rags, eat. only once a day. and sleep always in the open during their mission.