TIMBER INDUSTRY

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 22690, 18 August 1945, Page 4

TIMBER INDUSTRY

LACK OF MANPOWER “ The only limiting factor today in home building is manpower,” said the Minister of Rehabilitation, the Hon. C. F. Skinner, in an address at New Plymouth. The production of the mills, if fully manned, would be about 500,000,000 feet of timber. Last year they produced 341,000,000 feet, which was much more than pre-war production, and in 1943 production was 351,000,000 feet. Experience showed that 25 per cent of the men overseas at present would apply for houses on their return. “ The only solution is to get more men into the bush and into the mills,” said Mr Skinner. However, there were not sufficient bushmen and mill hands in the armed forces to meet the demand of industry. It might be necessary, as had been suggested, to declare a state of emergency as far as housing was concerned and direct men into the timber industry. However, all other methods of increasing timber production would be investigated first. Mr Skinner said negotiations were in progress with the authorities overseas, but so far the 1944 orders had not been delivered because of shipping difficulties. Australia had during the war years shipped timber to New Zealand in amounts ranging up to 12,000,000 feet annually and had received in return 2,000,000 feet.