The Hokitika Guradian FRIDAY, AUGUST 18th, 1922. NEW ZEALAND TIMBER FOR AUSTRALIA.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 August 1922, Page 2

The Hokitika Guradian FRIDAY, AUGUST 18th, 1922. NEW ZEALAND TIMBER FOR AUSTRALIA.

The prospects for New Zealand timber in Australia, particularly white pine for fnabing IMWv hoses, sro f.opsiiL ered by Mr L, A, Rtwoclt, Melbourne, tlrnhrr iwrchnnt. Yfh.o 1a yWtlnj* A.YirL-

I land, to be greatly enhanced by the 1 tariff agreement, under which it is pro. posed to abolish the Australian duty, (snys the “New Zealand Herald.”) Admission of New Zealand timber iuto . Australia xluty free will, Mr Sturrock states, undoubtedly result in a great increase in the sale of white pine, and also kauri, if the export restriction on the latter is removed. It will mean a great opening up of trade, and should provide welcome relief to the timbermilling industry in the Dominion, which is at present in a dull condition. Australia has not ratified the agreement yet, but Mr Sturrock is satisfied it will do so. The principal use made of New Zealand timbers in Australia is for fur-

niture. shelving*. linings and floorings . while the lower grades mado into cases, ■ snob as fruit cases and butter boxes. I All the States in the Commonwealth use ; Xew Zealand white pine for their butter boxes, except Queensland, which employs hoop pine, a soft white wood grown in that Stat eand in Northern Xew South Wales. Mr Sturrock’s firm lias been dealing in all sorts of New Zealand timber for 30 years and during last butter season it turned out 450.000 butter boxes made of white, pine. Tn addition, a large amount of riniu and white pine has been used for

other purposes. The. Dominion has been handicapped in the past- by the importation into Australia, of cheap timbers from America and flooring, linings and weather-boards from tlio Baltic. The removal of the duty will, in the opinion of Mr Sturrock, enable New Zealand to compote sucocssfuly with the foreign countries. Apart from the advantage to be gained by the Dominion in the way of increased export trade, there is the fact that it will be provided with hardwood timbers duty free, and it is just ns necessary for New Zealand to have the Australian hardwoods as it is for Australia to bare the New ZealarTd soft woods. Looking at the agreements broadly, said Mr Sturrock. it is one

of absolute reciprocity. An important matter in regard to conserving the svi . plies of white pine wbr mentioned by Mr Sturrock. His firm, by using wirebound boxes, is able to reduce the thickness of the timber employed in the manufacture to Jin. This means a very considerable saving of white pine,

for in New Zealand, where no wirebinding is used, the thickness of the timber is Jin. Mr Sturrock estimates that by reducing the thickness to Jin. bis firm in making 450,000 butter boxes Inst season, effected a saving of over a million feet of white pine.