TIMBER PROTECTION

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20040, 12 September 1939, Page 10

TIMBER PROTECTION

COMBATING WHITE ANTS RESEARCH CONDUCTED ' The serious damage being done to wooden structures in New Zealand by boring insects and wood-rotting fungi is given attention’ in the annual ■report of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. It is stated that this is a matter-of national concern, affecting not only the Government, which has ■ large sums invested in building securities, but also all owners of wooden buildings.

As one of the largest holders of building securities, states the report, the State Advances Corporation became seized with , the necessity for an organised attack on the problem, and requested the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research to set up a Timber Protection Research Committee to direct and .co-ordinate the necessary investigations. This had been done and much preliminary woric achieved, but the report states that additional stafT and facilities are required to carry out the fuil programme of research that is considerbd necessary.

“Since the initiation of research Work," states the report, "a new and urgent problem lias been presented by the discovery of extensive damage to houses by white ants, particularly in the Auckland district. Ways and means of combating this serious pest will accordingly form an important part of the committee’s activities during the coming year.”