RECORD TIMBER CUT

Chronicle (Levin), 15 May 1947, Page 5

RECORD TIMBER CUT

r: Press 4 ssaciatlon

VT — Rise lafrflduetipii feeeds , Exjpectations

By TSegpgph-

-WELLINGTON, May 15. Timber production in New Zealand reached an all-time record for the -y-ear ended March 31. The year's cut of 367,000j000 ooard feet outstrdpped -the previ-' -ous year's ' figui-e by 16,000,000 feet, ' ahd was 14;000,000 feet more than the previous record production in ihe y-ear 1026. fncluded in the past year's total was '7,00O;O00 bda-rd -feet of peeler togs used for veneer manufaciur.e. Announping these figures today, the Commissioner of State Forests, Mr. ' -Skinner, said the increase in • production had exceeded even his highest expecta-. tions. He felt certain it was but :;he start of an upward trend which, by the end of next year, would b'e very close to the target figipre of 415,000,000' feet a year. Mr . Skinner paid a tribute to all Jriiber workers,, sawmill owners and, their staffs, whp had worked long hours to offset ihe handicap of labour and equipment .shortages. "The operations .of newly established mills1 v/ere already making a significant contribution to the production, ' Mr. Skinner continued. During the year 76 new fnflls had stafted> jcutting, wlhile 29 mills were burnt, cut out or ceased .pperations. for other reasons. There were many hew mills which would begin cutting in the apmi'Ag mo.nths, and still further increases copld b.e expected. The prospects would b.e gr-eatly enhanced by the operation of the sawmiiU accommQda.tioh improvement scheme, which was now under way .and rapidly^ demon.strating its value. The increase in production -was dargely .due to the extended mill;i,ng pf exotic timher, which was hefng used more and more to relieve the drain on native species, said Mr. Skinner. This was parficularly naticeable in Canterbury and the Rotorua region, where timber production had shown the greatest improveanent.