N.Z. TIMBER

Hokitika Guardian, 21 February 1927, Page 4

N.Z. TIMBER

AMERICAN EXPERT’S VIEWS

ADVANTAGE OF SMALL -MILLS

WELLINGTON, Feb. 18. >

Air George M. Cornwall, publisher of the “Timbermaii” (Portland, Oregon, U.S.A.) is an international authority on the economics of the forest industry. He is at present in New Zealand at an interesting time in the evolution of the local forest and afforestation industries. Interviewed to-day, Air Cornwall encouraged New Zealand s aflorestation efforts. He stated that certain varieties of trees grew twice as fast in New Zealand as they did in America. These included Douglas Hr, Western red cedar, Western yellow pine, Port Orford cedar (Lawson’s cypress), and pinus pondcrosa, and no doubt there were others. The tree-planting operation of tho Forest Service with such trees wore therefore of national importance. “You have the best soil and climate conditions in tbo world for .growing softwood trees,” said Air Cornwall, “and if you proceed with iho planting of your five million acres ot idle lands you can also become the greatest timber exporting country in the world, copying and outdoing Sweden. Those of you who are carrying oil this great work are building greater than you know to-day. Remember that Great Britain’s first export was oak. Japan’* too, was timber, and I am told that New Zealand also started with kauri spans, hut you must bo careful as to what varieties you plant. You must plant tho right varieties to produce timber.”

Tho interviewer remarked that New Zealand planted largely pinus insignis. also known as pinus radiate, or Alontorey pine, a native of Southern California.

“It is not a timber tree with us,” said AD- Cornwall. “It is more put to such uses as wintlbreaks, but a chancre of country, climate, and soil may produce changed habits and qualities in a. tree. It may become in its new country a tree of different structure chemically. Therefore, 1 cannot discuss it as it exists in New Zealand.” “BEST OF BUSINESS.” In l'eplv to other questions. All* Cornwall said that tree-planting was both sentiment and business. It was the best of business. Tt was a deferred crop, but in America they estimated that one acre of Douglas fir timbered land yielding 50,000 hoard superficial feet per acre gave a yield equivalent to tho crop value of wheal for a period of fifty years. Timber was a deferred crop, but what Nature stored up she later released generously. Of first economic importance in the American timber industry were standard production and standard grading. The United States, following the Swedish privilege, aimed at a uniform product within tho range of the physical properties of the tree. Tho reduction of costs in Canadian and United States mills was obtained very largely by the use of specialised machinery adapted to the particular service required. Tie was pleased to say that he had been advised hy Air Arthur Seed, secretary of the New Zealand Federated Snwmillers’ Associations, that its members were contemplating the subjects of uniform costs system, and of employing experts to travel tho various mills and logging operations to acquaint- members with latest and most modern systems of production.

“This plan, if carried out,” said Air Cornwall, “will pay splendid dividends on the money in time and the idea, cannot he too highly commended. It may be that the Association might send one or two men to Canada and tho Unites! States to study the production of timber by mills of a similar capacity to those generally employed in New Zealand. Canada and the United States are not countries entirely of largo mills but have thousands of mills that compare in size with those of New Zealand.” SMALL A! ILLS l’R ['.DOMINATE. So the small-mill is not necessarily uneconomic?

“On the other hand the bulk of tho timber cut in Canada, and the United States is cut in small mills. The small mill, if properly managed, will produce as great a value of lumber per limn as the largest mill, and quantity in production does not necessarily imply cheaper production. In dealing with the relative production and profits, of small and large mills tho law of diminishing ratios aptly applies. A small unit, if skilfully managed, cutting 10.000 to 25,000 a day will return a profit per thousand far in excess of tho big one.” Then tho mass production docs not necessarily sweep) the field?

“The main tiling is standard manufacture and grading so that the customer ran rely on buying a uniform product. This factor gives small mills a wider marketing advantage. _ Tho small mills would not have as wide a range of products as the big mills would have, but grade for grade the small mills will lie a scheap.”