HARDWOOD TIMBER SUPPLY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1717, 7 April 1913, Page 4

HARDWOOD TIMBER SUPPLY.

♦ : — ' STATE PARTICIPATION PROBABLE. ,(By Telegraph,—Sneclal OorresponaettU Marton, April 5. A very important proposition, so far a 9 local bodies arc concerncd is contemplated by tho Government—namely, going into tlio hardwood business. 'It appears that recently the Publio Works Department has boon urged to consider the question of purchasing, for supply to local governing bodies, Australian hardwood piles and timber, suitable for use in constructing bridges, wharves, and other structures, and, according to a memorandum read by tho Rangitikei County Council to-day, tho Minister for Public Works is willing to assist in tho direction suggested, provided ho is satisfled that there is a general feeling on th 6 part of tho local bodies in favour of tho service being undertaken by the Government. Inquiries aro therefore being, mado whether the council would purchase tho hardwood timbors required from time to time from the stocks held by tho Government at prices that would represent only a small margin on. tho actual cost to tho Department. Tho advantagu would bo prompt delivery and aii assurance that tho timber has been inspected and passed by tho Government inspectors in Austria lia. Purchasers would be'expected to take delivery of tho timber at the Government depots, which would be established., at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin, and all tho charges for, handling and freight between the depot and the point of final delivery would bo borno by tho local authority purchasing tho timber. Tho councils aro to bo asked to supply n. brief schedule of tho lengths and sizea most likely to bo required, as a guide in compiling the order for stock ill tho event of tho Department receiving sufficient en-, couragcmont to warrant its embarking in tho business on tho lines indicated. It is a hardly likely'that tho larger councils will commit ( themselves to' SUch a scheme, inasmuch as the tendency nowadays is to erect in reinforced concrete. Tliero aro many councils, 'however, that will receive the information , with considerable 'pleasure.