THE EXPORT OF WHITE PINE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3054, 16 April 1917, Page 6

THE EXPORT OF WHITE PINE

Sir,—A question of vital importance, to the interests of this country is that of the exportation,of white pine. The Farmers , Union proposes that a restriction should'be placed on the export of this. ever-valuable wood, and rigntly so. To this recommendation the Timber Workers' Federation protested at a deputation by that body to the Act-ing-Prime Minister (Sir James Allen) recently. Alt that deputation, it was stated , that the present forests of white pine would meet needs for but another ton years,, and perhaps not that, with an increasing demand for butter-boxes. ThinkT y° ars t ' me . ant * noue that timber left. Why? Because millions of feet are 'exported to v Australia. Now, as New Zealand consumes onethird of the present output, if the exportation was' prohibited, would not our white pine Jast for our own use for three times as long, nay, about twenty-five years? Then the question arises: What will Australia have in which to export her butter? Coflld not we inform Australia to seek elsewhere for a suitable wood, granting her time, say, one or two years,' , in which to make the necessary arrangements in connection therewith? Thus, with a fair warning, the export of butter from tliat country would not be interfered with. Then, again, in that "time of grace" we would have to j.ass legislation to prevent a "ruthless exportation, for otherwise they would most likely gather large stocks of this wood for future use, and thus denude us of it. Now. furthermore, presuming the Government prohibits the export (whiph they will do if they consider the interests of New Zealand), would it not be possible for the New Zealand Government to replant areas of land with white pine, which, if done in the near future, would in twenty-

five years' time be ready for felhngF Then, by so doing, and, of course, systematically replanting as it is felled, this important industry WQuld always oxist, while, on the other hand, if no steps are taken, our supplies of wood will cease, and what will be the consequence? Simply, that we ourselves will have to import wood for our but-ter-boxes which would be considerably more expensive. Therefore, ,if the aforesaid was carried out, it would obviously be in tho interests of our country, and it is to be hoped that we have a Government upon whom we can depend, to see that our interests are safe-guarded.—l am, etc., A NEW ZEALANDER. "Wellington, April 13, 1917.