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THE TIMBER INDUSTRY.
To the Editor of "The Mercury."
Sir,-The Imnlv Feed is loaded with
squared piles, being the seventh ship loaded
by Messrs Gray Bros in all carrying
about four million feet of this class of
timber for Admiralty works in England
and South Africa Messrs Gray have
gone to considerable expense in obtaining
these orders, necessitating two trips to
England with the result of opening up a
permanent trade with the two largest contracting
firms in Great Britain, if it is not
nipped in the bud by the drastic laws of
our Crown Land Department in the preparation
of those piles, about fifty bush
men have been employed for nearly three
years, and also large teams of cattle, haul-
ing to the shipping place Such an industry
I am "-sure deserves well of the
State, and should be fairly treated by the
Government We hear a great deal about
fostering the timber industry, but what
has been really done? in the preparation
of the first cargo the license fee was ten
shillings a month per man, for the four
following cargoes the fee was lil, and the
last two cargoes of 10s for everyone employed
on the job, including teamsters so
I should like to know what this fostering
really means But I have an idea that
when our new Ministry settles down, to
work, they will take a broader view of
this important industry, and introduce a
more equitable measure, which will enable
us to compere in foreign markets
Sir, do you know that a license fee of
Jil IO ki equal to 6d. a hundred feet Why
should it be so, when the royalty on other
timber is 6d a thousand feet Perhaps it
is to recoup the office of Crown lands
bailiff, a gentleman we could very well do
without, especially for this class of work,
as he will tell you, and tell his Minister
also that it tains the pick of our forest
fun her to make those piles Such, however,
is not so as regards the last cargo, as
I Know a tract of country that has been
called out for logs piles, and sleepers for
the last thirty years, and yet over five hundred
of the piles have been obtained
This antiquated method of obtaining revenue
by means of a license on bushmen
is unjust, as the fee must be paid monthly
in advance Then it often occurs through
inclement weather and accidents that he
cannot do more than a week's work before
his license expires The same applies
to the contractor He may take out
licenses for a number of men, and they
are unable to work for the same reason.
Therefore, the royalty rates for all kinds
of bush work is far preferable, as then all
employed would pay on the result of their
labour.
-Yours,, etc., I
SQUARES.
June 15. ^^^^^^^^^
$