OUTLOOK NOT HOPEFUL

Chronicle (Levin), 10 August 1946, Page 5

OUTLOOK NOT HOPEFUL

-Press A ssnr.ia.tinn

IMPORTED TIMBER SUPPLIES

MISLEADING REPORT

By Telearavh—

AUCKLAND, August 9. The outlook for supplies of imported timber to assist the building industry in New Zealand, is stated in Auckland to be not as favourable as Wellington reports have suggested. A portion of 28,000,000 board feet of timber ordered from the I'nited Btsites and Canada, has alreadv reached Auckland but strikes which have sinee held up timber in dustries 111 North Ameriea, have made it unlikely that New Zealand will receive very large quantities tliis year. Tlie report from Wellington was mis leading, said an oitieial of tlie Auckland Timber Mercluints' Association. The order for timber from the Unitedi States and Canada was given last November aud the iirst shipment df 1,800,000 board feet of oregon pine reached Auckland 011 .Tune 1. The second shipment of 90 0,000 board feet of the same timber is expected to arrive next month. It was stated that New Zealand would be fortunate if she managed to get one moro shipment after that this year as strikes in both Canada and the Fnited States liad interrupted supplies. lt was unlikely that auy American red wood would arrive in New Zealand this year as there had been a strike in the iimber industry in Ameriea for aliout. j •iie months. In tlie case of timber i'rom Canada the only restrictions im [tosed by ihe Cauadian timber controller ()ii the eoast mills of British Columbia until last May, was that they must retain 85 per cent. of their production for domestic markets, leaving 25 per cent. for the Fnited Kingdom quoin and 80 per cent. for other markets. Tlie whole industry in Canada was however, elosed by strikes 011 May 15 and did not resume until more'tlian a month later. Advice has beeu received in Auckland timi the Canadian timber eontrol ier has nnw raised the domestic quota to 50 jver cent. to compensafe for losses sal'uwed l)_v the strike. Tlie United Kingdom quoin re.mains at 85 per cent., 'eaviug only 15 per cent. for all other markets of- which New Zealand is a part. | The Wellington report stated 1ha1: to lielp meet New Zealand 's urgent timber re(|uirements, 2,900,0(J() board feet of reg'on pine and 200,000 board feet of uest e.rn red cednr are at- .present b.c ing 'issembled at west eoast ports of North Ameriea, mainly Yaneouver, for sliip aient to the Doininion this month. In August 1'ist year tlu- Governnient made dollar funds available for the purclmse if and wlien possible, of 1-5,000,000 feet of oregon pine, 8,000,000 feet of western red cedar, and 5,000,000 feet of American redwood.]