THE TIMBER COMMISSION.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 12734, 2 April 1909, Page 5

THE TIMBER COMMISSION.

The Dunedin Sitting; (Per United Press Aseruation). DUNEDIN, April 1. Gabriel Hodges, builder and contractor, said he was in favour of Oregon and other foreign timber being 1 admitted duty free. Oregon and Australian hardwood filled a much felt want. Prices for timber in general mr Dunedin had advanced of late years, but still compared favourably with the prices ruling ;n other centres. The price of timber affected a number of buildings being erected, especially as regarded buildings of a sipeculative nature. Oregon and Australian hardwood supplied a want that it was impossible to fill with any native timber. It gave better lengths and bigger sizes, was better seasoned, easier to handle, and retained its shape better than any local timber. BuildeTs ■ put in unseasoned timber because they could not get seasoned. The extra cost of timber now as compared with some yeaie ago was principally for dressed timber, such as linings, ceilings, and mountings, and he understood there was a combination among timber merchants in Dunedin to keep up the prices. There was 1 a fixed price list. He did not think forest plantations would provide duplicates of the native timber. It Would provide aricp. ther timber of some commercial value, but not as good. • ' • H. V. Haddock," manager for Murdoch and Co., timber merchants, said the importation of timber made very little difference to Southland and other sawmills. More Oregon had come to his mill during the last two or three months than in the past. Blue gum and black pine had given way to concrete for piles and there was jnot the same necessity for importing hardwood. There had been no revision of prices except as to Baltic, ami Oregon pine. Dunedin prices were fixed at Invercargill. Railway freights were reasonable. It would not make any difference to him whether the duty was- taken off or put on imported timber^ He thought it was desirable to 'Conserve our forests to some extent." Ten years ago timber was 10s with 5 per cent, ■discount, now it was 13s with 10 per cent, -•discount. The expense of getting timber was a great deal less in the past; than it ,is-,now. l ." " ,:*.&* McCallum, sawmiller and timber merchant, .advocated a duty on all sites di .Oregon^ pine. Timber might be brought , from such places as Colao Bay and the -West- Coast by vessels at a less price than they -were now payine. The timber business is not as payable now as it was 10 - ,\ycax6vago. Ore'pon was not likely to re- „ r duce the cost of New Zealand timber.