PLANT TO TREAT TIMBER AGAINST BORER PLANNED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 6, 1 July 1949, Page 5

PLANT TO TREAT TIMBER AGAINST BORER PLANNED

Following the success of experiments in Australia for treating timber against borer, plans are being prepared by a group of Bay of Plenty, sawmillers to establish a treatment plant either at Te Teko or Edgecumbe. This plant will be used to treat tawa and is expected to be in operation in about twelve months.

" The plant will be the first of its kind to be used in New Zealand although it is believed that plans for a similar plant at Tauranga are now in the course of preparation. Tawa, which is ideal timber for furniture, floor boards and weather boards, is very attractive to borer and has been barred for building in many towns in New Zealand. This new plant is expected to immunize it against any attack by the insect. Unlike the present treatment in use the new plant will treat the timber right through and has been approved by officers of the Forestry Department. t Capable of treating about 2,000,000 feet of timber a year the plant is to be formed into a private company. Beside tawa, pinus and other secondary indigenous timbers ‘ will also be treated.

Known as the boric acid process it was evolved in Australia to immunize timber against borer. It is regarded in the building industry as a great step forward as it has brought into use a wide range of good timbers which previously were of no practical value because of their susceptibility to attack. The chief to be affected in New Zealand is tawa.;

From present indications -i it is thought that the whole output of the plant will be - used in the Bay of Plenty or in the rest of the country. If there is any surplus however, Australia has signified that she will be able to take all that can be produced. It may be that the Bay of Plenty will have still another product for export.