Further Timber Record Forecast

Chronicle (Levin), 18 January 1949, Page 6

Further Timber Record Forecast

WELLINGTON, Jan. 17. A further record iu timber production in 1948-19 is forecast by tlie Couitnissioncr of Blate Forests, Mr. .Bkinner. Already, said Mr. Skinner, it is certain that ihe output will be at least 150,000,000 board feet and likely that it will be 170,000,000 feet or 37,000,000 feet better than 'the yecord ' production of 1917-18. Although this would be good news for timber users throughout the 1X> minion, said M r. ykinner, it was of fur-. tlier national iuiportance because by the end of March, approxiinately 2(i, 000,000 feet of tiniber would liave been shipped to Australia. This timber would be worth £000,000 — a signiiieant increaso over . last year's exporl oi' 9,000,00) feet, worth only about £l(i(),000. As iuore shippiug space became available, exports would be steadily lucreased, particularlv through Tauranga, whicli would be tlie loadrng point for at least i'our shipmeuts to Australian in the present year. Of the timber exported, threequarters was exotic fo/est produce and the remainder native species although no uative heart timber was incJuded. Australia took 95 per cent. of our timber exports and the remainder weut to islands in the Pacilic. Exports during the curreut year were suilicient to emphasise the important role that New Zealaiid timber would plav in bringing about a more eveu balance of trade with Australia. "Because I have spoken many times ubout tlie sphnidhl "way ' in whicli tlie men and millers iu tlie sawmilling uiclustry have and are creating n.ew production records, niany" timber users are disappointed because tlieir suppiies problems are not yet solved," sanl Mr. ykinner. " It is true that tliere are sliortages of certain lypes of timber, mainly for llooring and weallierboa rding, but tlie overall picture is a verv briglit oue. The increased ainount oi liiiiber produce') has not been particularlv cvidont necause we are buildiug 5ii per ceiil. niore houses tlian we '!id I before Ihe war and it is swaJlowcd up immedialelv. But it is signiiieant timi tiiiibor liierchants liave been able to !)U ild up sinall reserves. Auckland Oitv is a good example of this. Sto'ks tliere have been doubled since 194(i aiub in most of the other timber zones, reserves are now 70 per cent. grea^'r tliaii they wero two years ago. " - L '. Mr. ykinnq^'ex^lained that l&h fdrfc'cast of produlftidjr for tlie curreajt year was aot a haplify/aa'd estimale bht Was' j based on a earei uL 'analysis i trade l>y olHcers of tlie New Zealand Poi^st Ber- \ it-e from ligures already available and from ihe known capa'-ities oi' Ihe many rnills operaliug tlirougliout the couafry A eonservati ve estimale of -15'), ()()(), ()()■> board 1 ect made allowaiice for any eveutualities wh'ieh niiglil alleet or interrupt production; The increased ci.it would not be only in exQtic.Tb'r^.tSi- but Liw;re wotijd also '•be more.iia ti '^i vuilabfe si hce many ni'illers \yerb.;i- eontinufyg fo operate in a I'oasbvv Irich . I li'ey would have overlooked, in-. - pre^warUlvours. 'l:liM trend, 'lowevor, c ou I d "-'pp t. be oxpected to eontinue l'or lOiig and more .aird nioVe' reliance would havS to be placed oii exotic timbers.