H. VALDEB.J

551

H.—24.

26. I suppose these are very choice pieces that they have brought here, and this is a sample of timber that has been taken from the top of the stack? — Yea, from the top of the stack and the end of the board. 27. That would not affect it for rough planing'; —I should imagine not. 2(S. What is your opinion respecting long beams coming into this country? Would it affect your business detrimentally if long lengths were allowed to come in at reasonable rates?—l think long timber would come in in any case. I do not think the duty would affect that. There is a certain difficulty in getting long lengths in our timbers here. 29. Seeing that is so, and (hey are very necessary in this and other parts of New Zealand, do you not think it would be wise to allow them to come in, and put an extra duty on the smaller sizes? —No, I think long lengths would come in in any case. It does not matter what duty you put on. Why not let them pay. 30. Why not let the general public get these long lengths somewhat cheaper?—lt would not be worth considering, because of the trifling difference in the total cost of building. They are all used in large buildings orly. 31. You believe in protecting commodities that Wβ can produce? —Yes, to that extent. 32. Is there any risk of fire in your district? —There is a certain amount of timber burnt every year. 33. In a very dry summer you find it difficult to keep fires back if they get a start? —We have lost a considerable amount of money in fighting bush-fires. 34. I think 1 notice that a fire has taken place near your mill up the line? —Our bush is not near the mill, but that fire spread to our bush. 35. There is risk?— Undoubtedly. •'5O. You understand the conditions under which people in the South Island buy their timber, do you not?—l am not conversant with the South Island trade. 37. Are you aware that they pay royalty on the output of the mill?—I have heard so. 38. At the rate of 6d. ?—Yes. 39. Do you not consider that the people in the North Island should be put on the same footing? —I think it would be fair, because we are competing in the same market. 40. They have no capital to put into their bushes, and therefore they place you at a great disadvantage?— Undoubtedly. 41. You are aware that in the South the railage for fifty miles is Is. 4d. ? —I do not think any one knows what the railages are for the whole of New Zealand. 42. Do you not think that the railage should be the same in places where there is no competition by water?—l think it would only be fair. 43. Mr. Stallworthy .] Is it not a fact that timbers are sold now that were thrown aside as useless some years ago?— Not that 1 am aware of. Not from our own bushes. 44. Can you give us an idea how timber dealers purchase supplies. Do they give you large orders at once?—No, I should not call them large orders. 45. To what extent? —Ten, twenty, to thirty thousand feet. 40. Do they give you orders practically for the building as they get them? —In some instances, yes. 47. Is that generally the case?— There are rather different conditions in different districts. In the Waikato timber is sold by the dealers, and the consumers purchase from them fer deliver}' direct from the railway-truck. 48. There is practically no yarding in the Waikato district?—A very small percentage is held in stock there. 49. Do 3'ou ever get an order from the dealer for Oregon ?—No. We do not stock Oregon pine. 50. They do not stock the Oregon in large quantities in Auckland? —Not to the same extent as kauri. 51. How many mills have you?— Four. 52. When did you erect your last one? —About two or three years ago, and we have not done building it yet. 53. What is the falling-off in your output during the last two or three years?—lt has not fallen off. On an average we put out as much timber as ever. 51. How do you feel this slump, seeing that the price and the output have not gone down? — We have to keep larger stocks than formerly. 55. In reference to these discounts, 1 think you said you gave the dealers 17J per cent, and 2| per cent. ?—That is so, in the Auckland district. 56. Is that not a large discount?—l wish it were smaller. 57. How is it that you give so much? —The dealers a&j it is not enough. 58. How is it arranged between you and the dealer?—By mutual consent. 5!). You said it whs too much?—l said I wished it was less. The dealer has to give 10 per cent, of that away to the consumer. 60. It is \ll pei- cent., and I want to know how it was fixed. It is general throughout your association, is it not?— Quite so. 61. With regard to the dealers in the Auckland Association? — l understand they have not any association. They call it something else. 1 cannot give you information on that point. 02. How comes this 17i per cent, to be arranged by the associations?— Which associations do you refer to I 03. Your association and the dealers' association? —The associations have nothing to do with each other. 64. How came you to fix it at 17| per cent. ?■— In the same way as other trades fix their profits.