WHITE PINE SUPPLIES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3112, 16 June 1917, Page 13

WHITE PINE SUPPLIES

JJAIIvY FARMERS ALAKMED

Tho rapidly decreasing supplies of white pine, from which butter-boxes aro manufactured, was the subject of a lengthy discussion at the aimunl conference- of dolecates of North Auckland dairy factories. The matter was introduced by a remit from a meeting of delegates at WhauKarei suggestiuß the advisability of establishing a butter-box factory. • Mr. E. Harding, of Northorn Wairoa, urged that tho (iovexument should bo asked to tako steps to prohibit tho makinc of any further contracts for tho export of white pine. There was a movement in Auckland to prevent any interference, with the export of tho, timber, and it was of vital interest to the dairy producers that they should take steps to combat that movement. From figures lie had obtained he found that the white pino snpplies would bo exhausted in eeven or eight years. The chairman remarked that the question was the most important matter before the conference. The wholo of the white pine available was in the Auckland Province. Ho had full particulars, .and he could corroborate tho assertion that if the present conditions obtained the supply would be.exhausted in seven years. Most of tlie private owners of white pino forests were merely land speculators, and they should be made to cive way to tho interests of the niaiority. In any caso the whito pine privatelyowned land would be purchased by dairy producers by arrangement. For many years pnst from 1C to 20 million feofc of white Tiino had been exported to their Australian competitors every year. On the motion of Mr. .T. H. Hudson it w.t; resolved that tho National Dairy Association should bo asked to co-operate with the conference to bring nbout the prohibition of tho export of whito pino. A committee was nnnointod to act with tho association in the matter.