EXPORT OF WHITE PINE.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 June 1920, Page 1

EXPORT OF WHITE PINE.

REPI A’ TO DAIRY-DELEGATES

(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 4.

Hon Sir Francis Bell, Minister of State Forests, lias forwarded the following reply to the representations made by the dairy factory delegates and managers 'regarding the necessity of prohibiting the export of white pine. The letter points out it has not been found practicable to entirely prohibit the export of white pine, owing to the following facts: —Firstly, that a large amount of timber has been cut on land which had to be cleared, in connection witlr the greatly increased settlement that has taken place in the last few years, in districts where there were comparatively small or no demand for timber, which would therefore have been wasted had it not been exported; secondly, that a large, proportion ol the timber produced from the white pine log is of inferior quality, for which in New Zealand there is only a small demand, while in Australia there is a keen demand for it; thirdly, that there has been a shortage of coastwise shipping from West Coast ports to northern ports, thus preventing the local use of much timber produced. It was also pointed out that though the export of white pine had not been entirely prohibited, it has, under the Board of Trade regulations been limited to a maximum of forty per cent of the total production, and in addition in ihost' cases where licenses to cut or soil standing timber on public and private lands are issued, under the Regulations made under authority of section 34 of the War Legislation or Statute Law Amendment Act, 1918, there is now imposed a condition that none of the timber is to ) bo exported.