N Z. TIMBER

Hokitika Guardian, 28 February 1928, Page 4

N Z. TIMBER

TO ENCOURAGE ITS USE. j rimiE minister's statement. j CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. ‘27. ■ M bile in Christchurch on Saturday | on his way to Greymouth, the Prime j Minister, Mr Coates, made an interest- ■ ing statement regarding the work done j by tlie special committee of experts set t up to put the timber industry of the I Dominion in a more stable position. * Mr Coates said that the Hon Mr Mc- | l.eod. Minister for Industries and Com- | merce, and himself personally had inI spected the classification of the Domiu- | ion’s timbers. The work of the eom- | mittec of experts would result, he bej lieved, in extreme economy as far as 1 those using New Zealand timbers for I any purpoes were concerned. 1 The Prime Minister’s statement fol- ! lows:—

The Government has given a good deal of thought to this important industry, and those intimately connected with the trade know that increased Customs duties were imposed last session on imported timbers with a view to encouraging the increased use of our own domestic supplies. The Government is aware of the importance of the timber industry, of its great employing capacity, and its general economic worth to the Dominion. EXPERT COMMITTEE SET UP. We were desirous, therefore, of putting the industry in a more stable position and to ensure its success and progress. The Government has not been content merely to give increased protection. hut last year set tip an expert committee, comprising officials of the Department of Industries and Commerce, State Forest Service, Public Works Department, Valuation Department, and representatives of the sawmilling industry, in order to advise what further steps would ho taken to ensure the increased use in the Dominion of our own timbers. It is my desire, so far as the Government is concerned, to encourage the purchase by State Departments of Xew Zealand timber entirely in all building

operations, and T was somowliat surprised to learn from tlie experts in the cliief tinnier .consuming departments that there was some difficulty in getting proper qualities, in securing uniform sizes, and timber which was properly seasoned. Failing to get this service- tlie departments had no option hut to draw upon outside supplies for their requirements. Further investigation convinced me that the critic-ism was justified, hut that there appeared to he no tangible reason why the full requirements of the Government could not he met from locally produced timbers. I'NIFOR.M GRADING CLASSIFICATION. For the past ten months the committee has been actively at workfr and, although its inquiries are not yet completed, in two important phases of its duties the end is in sight, nainelly, in establishing uniform grading and classification of all New Zealand timbers in c-ommon use and in defining tlie maximum detects and blemishes occurring in. our timber. r l lie new classification is generally regarded as extremely simple in application in ramson with wluit hitherto has been in operation in the industry. Providing the new classification is adopted by the industry, then J see no reason why the Government, which probably is one ol the most extensive users of limber in the Dominion, should not lie independent of imported supplies. From the millers’ viewpoint the new clansi/icatiiiu should he of decided benefit, as I am inhumed that a greater percentage will lie secured from a log. and prac-

tical experiments already carried on ut various mills at the end of last yea have definitely proved this to he a lari SICASONTN't) AND (lON Dill ON I NT' The eommittee has yet to deal wit the i|Ues|ion ol .seasoning and emul tinning local timbers and the report o an expert who lias been abroad fo several months to study the latest me thods of mechanical and air-sensonin; process is awaited. 'When this officer’ repoi L is available, this intricate am difficult problem will. \ hope, he final ly dealt with, and the suggested im provements will he made to the indus try. .1 am looking forward to the fid co-operation and goodwill, not only o State Departments, hut also of lora bodies, architects, and builders, win will. I feel sure, assist the special committee to bring about a decided improvement in the indutrsy. The committee proposes to convene eonfereneces of the interested parties mentioned in order that the results of the work may he put before them with a view to the extended use of our indigenous timbers.