The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1929-06-26

shingles, and to their replacement Dy
all sorts of composition shingles.
Composition Roofs Increase
"While the production of shingles
composition roofs has greatly in
has declined steadily for many years,
the production and consumption of
creased. Those facts, to my mind,
clearly account for the decline in the
single production in the United
States.
>"I find also that the shingles i'm
ported from British Columbia are en-
tirely what is known as high type
of shingles. They meet demand
which cannot be filled by the low
grade single.
Second, the tariff commission
findings show conclusively and in
great detail that shingles cost more
to produce in Canada than they do
in Washington and Oregon. This is
in part due to the fact that they make
an especially fine quality of shingles,
but the commission has also deter
mined that even comparing costs of
identical grades of shingles that they
average as high and in some cases
higher in British Columbia.
"The commission also finds that
there is no particular difference in
the wage scales, wages being higher
on one side of the line for one class
of employees, and reverse this situa-
ton for other types of labor, but on
the whole comparing very closely.
This should completely dispel the
oriental labor question.
No Unfair Competition
'Third, in the matter of prices it
does not appear that there has been
any unfair competition but that grade
for grade the British Columbia shin
giles have commanded a somewhat
higher price in our American mark
cts than the shingles of Washington
and Oregon. The commission finds,
for example, that there is very little
direct competition between the Brit
ish Columbia single and our own,
since our own are so largely of low
grade. This does not show the need
of any tariff.
Fourth, I find from by investiga-
ton that the statement that he shin
gle Industry is very depressed at this
time it is not borne out by facts.
There is data on the record which
shows that the single prices in
Washington and Oregon are more
than 20 per cent higher now than a
year ago, and that prices are higher
now. than they have been for many
years.
Permit me to quote an extract
from a statement of w. C. McMas-
ter, president of the Red Cedar shin
gle bureau of Washington and Ore
gon, who, am told, is large manu-
facturer of shingles, as it appears
in the West Coast Lumberman, I'M
der date of Dec. Is, 1928:
"'While 1928 was not altogether
profitable year for the single in
dustry, there is no doubt at all that
it was the best year from every
viewpoint that the single industry
has had since 1919. The trend back
to shingles was very marked and
there was long period in the peak
of the building season that it was i'm
possible to fill the demands. One of
the most encouraging features of this
comeback to- favor with the building
public is the trend toward the use of
high grade shingles, backed by re-
sponsible manufacturers, who have
shown great strides in the improve
ment of their product. 1t is not nee
essary to list the large manufacture
ers who used to make nothing but
star-a-star, who now make high
grade shingles equal to the best
make. The Importance of this to the
industry cannot be overestimated, be-
cause every job of good shingles will
build good will with the consumer
and dealer who sells Them
Taking all things into account it
would seem reasonable that the shin
gle industry can look forward to 1929
with considerable optimism.
Depression Not Indicated
"Mr. McMaster is recognized as an
authority on the industry. This does
not indicate depression and is a de-
cided confederation of the tariff COM
mission comments on high grade edge
grain shingles.
another fact, developed by my
examination of the record, is that
another American industry is depend
emit for its raw material on the Brit
lsh Columbia single, since it must
have high grade shingles which it
cannot obtain in quantity in Washing
ton and Oregon. This is the stained
single industry, which apparently
has done much to promote and main
tain the use of the wooden single.
Taking into consideration the
above facts, if I understand protec-
ton rightly, there is certainly no
ground for protective tariff in this
item of shingles and excellent rea-
sons why no protective tariff should
be granted.
Shingles are pretty largely used
In our country by the farmer and
rural communities, and / would GER
talnly be opposed to taxing the farm
er for the benefit of an industry
l.