SAWMILLERS’ CONFERENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 August 1923, Page 1

SAWMILLERS’ CONFERENCE.

• NEW REGULATIONS. [nv xr.LEitrath—na( tress association.J WELLINGTON, July 31. The conference of the New Zealand Snwmfilers’ Federation concluded today. A using out of a discussion on the effect of city building by-laws and the Government Advances Department's rules respecting the qualities of timbers to ho used in dwellings, and the effect of them on tile cost of building, tfie following resolutions were carried : “That the Engineer of the State Forest Service be urged to complete and make available the promised summary of the building by-laws of New Zealand, with hi* recommendations ti.oieou, in order that these nitty he considered, and made full use of by the federation in its endeavor to secure more riasiniahlo by-lav.s respecting the qualities and sizes of timbers allowable in dwellings, with a view to securing a reduction in the general costs of building. "That a suh-conuniUeo of the federation he set up. with a secretary to confer with the District Valuers of the Valuation Department with a view to securing a relaxation of the building regulations or standards in respect oi timbers for flooring and weather hoarding that will allow of a reduction in the cost of these items in building while in no wi.-.o reducing the lengi-i ol' life of the resultant dwelling.

“That this conference be held immediately.” ft may be. made known that Government Valuers will now accept in dwellings for Government advances 100 per cent, heart timbers in rough heart of niatat and rimtt qualities of the country sawmillers’ classification.

This, stated Air Seed (secretary of tlte federation) means that these qualities are not only cheaper, hut are more oasily obtainable, than the clean quality previously insisted upon. By allowing the use of these heart timbers, which may contain small firm knots and gum streaks, the supply of timber for the.-.o purposes will approximately be doubled. It should make a substantial reduction in the cost of houses. In reference to fruit case timbers a difficulty has arisen each season among fruitgrowers in the Nelson district in securing adequate supplies of fruit cases at the height of the season.

The conference gave considerable time to discussion of this problem and it was found to he almost wholly a

question of credit. The sawmillers necessarily produce a certain quantity of fruit ca-e quality timber each month Unoughout- the year, hut the fruitgrower has not hitherto been able to purchase in advance, requiring his .supply practically in one lot, when his fruit is ready to pack. The .sawmillcr cannot produce the- necessary quantity at short notice, and. as a result of the activities of the federation and the Nelson Sawmillers' Association, a system has been arranged whereby timber for the cases required for tho whole of the export business will be forwarded throughout the year, and tho necessary credit is, in part, found by the .sawmillcr, in part by the boxmakcr, and in part by the Fruitgrowers’ Federation, through whonie all supplies will be drawn