Timber Production Sets New Record

Chronicle (Levin), 6 July 1949, Page 3

Timber Production Sets New Record

Press Assootiatinn )

s (Per

u t'"' " WELLINGTON, July 5. •7 A fresh record in timber production ' — for the third #year in succession — was announced today by the Gommissioner ibf State Forests, Mr. Skinner, who said ■480,000,000 board feet Of timber were 'inrlleddn the year ended March' 31. 'T^s wias 47,000,000 feet more than any previous annual total. * i The principal speeies mifled were rimu, the output of- which rose by 19,000,000 feet to 216,000,000 feet, and the insignis pine, 159,000,000 feet compared with 137,000,000 feet the previous year Mr. Skinner said the 26,000,000 board feet increase in the production of exotic timbers (the actual exotie total production was not given by the Minister), foreshadowed a not very distant time when exotie timbers would largeiy replace rimu as the principal building timber. Exotie timber production had increased fourfold in ten years and the insignis pine was gaining rapidly in.use and popularity. "Rimu production has now reached its peak and must inevitably deeline as the effect of restrietions on the mi 1 ling of native forests is felt," said Mr. Skinner. ' ' This will probably cause a reductjon in the total production next year. Forest poliey aims at redncing the cutting of native timbers with an increasjng cohcentration on the regeneration and management of the forests. In, this field promising results are being obtained with Southland beeeh, red beech and kauri but the regenerafion' and management of rimu is beset by difficulties, especially the irreguiarify of seed years. The possibilities of regenerating kahikatea, totara and matai are also limited by the fact that these speeies are growing on land that - is suitable for agriculture." Mr. Skinner referred to valuable mfo.rmation being eollected by tlie national forest survey which is making excellent progress in its inventory > oi native forest resources. Data obtainea from the survey and from forest research work at the forest experimental station at Rotorua, would provide -firsthand knowledge on which to base plans for the management and conservation of the remaining forest resources. |] Mr. Skinuer praised the efforts of the . fjawmilling industry, both workers and jnillers. No industry, he said, had work^d harder or done more in the service of the country. '