‘Timber Export If Tests Succeed’

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31119, 23 July 1966, Page 3

‘Timber Export If Tests Succeed’

(New Zealand Press Association) ROTORUA, July 22. The Waipa State mill would see if New Zealand timbers could be treated economically by a preservation process essential in New Guinea before imported timber could be used in Government work, the sawmill manager at Waipa (Mr A. W. Oakley) said today.

If the tests proved successful he was sure that there were good prospects for an expanding export trade. Mr Oakley was commenting on statements by Mr J. G. Dow, assistant sales manager, who has returned from a twoweek market survey for timber sales in Papua-New Guinea, including Rabaul, on the island of New Britain. Mr Dow said the Australian Government intended spending about £56 million in New Guinea during the next year on defence, housing, civil

aviation and education. Such developments would tax to the limit local timber production from the indigenous forests. Therefore, Papau-New Guinea would have to import materials to keep abreast of the proposed building programme and development. The main obstacle for New Zealand would be the high cost of shipping at infrequent intervals. A further difficulty was the insistence by the New Guinea Administration that imported timber for Government work be treated with preservative to guard against attack by dry wood termite.