FORESTS PRODUCTS

Hokitika Guardian, 2 August 1921, Page 3

FORESTS PRODUCTS

WESTR A LI AN EXHII3ITION

EXAMPLE FOR NEW ZEALAND. A fine exhibition of the forest pro--1 ducts of Western Australia, constituting what is described as “a. remarkable revelation of the utility of despised byproducts,” was opened at Perth, W.A., las) month by the Minister for Industries (the Hon J. Seaddan). As a result of this exhibition, states the “Perth Daily News,” “The man in the street will see the worth of ‘waste’ things, upon which before he would not have bestowed a second glance; and he ■ "ill see in graphic examples the dire harm that insignificant beetles and lavrae wreak upon timber, the value of which he is taught in another section of the exhibition. The greatest credit is due to the Council of Industrial Development and Forestry Department (State) and fho Forest Products Laboratory (Commonwealth), who have collaborated in exhibiting our forest

potentialities so oiloctively. No argumeiu could lie si l onger, no description more succinct, that the one placed before the public in diagrams and in glass cases. There is one thing which immediately catches the eye. It is, the miniature paper-making mill, which is mounted in tlie centre of the exhibition, and which, acre its many wheels humming!) meny tune, industrially produces a tiptop pa|>er from native wood pulp ‘while you watch.’ . . . Papers made from various native timbers are on view also, and the worth of these for the various grades of printing, etc., is demonstrated far more effectively than could be done by any set of statistics showing the chemical constituents of the wood in words that end in v>ids’ and ‘ics. Flowing out of a small barrel, the pul |> — - grey and watery-looking—passes by devious means, becoming more solid as it, proceeds, to the heated rollers which soon have if in its finished state. The process appears remarkable, and no doubt, now that the worth for commercial use has been demonstrated ol Western Australian timber, huge quantities of which have hitherto been wasted, other developments will follow.” It was suggested to a “Times” representative yesterday by a gentleman interested in forestry matters, who drew hig attention to the report of the Australian exhibition, that a similar exhibition of New Zealand forest products and of the great industrial and commercial potentialities of much of our timber which is now going to waste, would prove of great value to the Dominion. In declaring open the exhibition above referred to, Mr Seaddan paid a tribute to the enterprise shown by the leading newspaper proprietors in Western Austpilia in purchasing the miniature paper-making mill described, which he believed was the only one of its kind in existence. When it was known that the newspapers of Australia used about (10,OOP tons ol paper per aniluin, the possibilities in-front of paper-making in the State could, be said, be realised. As illustrating the value of the forest miduots of the State, lie pointed out that Western Australia had exported in all over £21,000,0(H) worth of timber in different forms; and had used nearly £10,000.000 worth of timber locally for building, and other purposes, while mining had absorbed £28,000,000 worth ; making a grand total of nearly €00,000,000 worth.