TIMBER GRADES

Hokitika Guardian, 2 March 1928, Page 1

TIMBER GRADES

XKW SCHK.UK PROPOSED. COM PETITION WITH OREGON. WELLINGTON. Foil. ■!'.). Tlic proposals lur now standard grades ol' timbers, wliioli wore launolietl liv the Dominion Government ton mouths ago, are nearing completion. This week a conference of architects, builders, sjuvniillers, ami local body representatives is to make arrangements for the necessary big congress of the whole country to endorse the now proposa Is. Finding difficulty in obtaining tlelinite grades of New Zealand timbers for its constructional scheme, the Goveminent called a preliminary conference of Departmental beads to investigate the question of preparation of standard grades. The Now Zealand Sawmiller;.’ Federation was co-opted for tbe work and tbe Government is to be recoup mended to allow the use of 50 per cent heart timber in position where, at present, only heart timber may be used, provided that this TO per cent heart timber is thoroughly seasoned. Under tbe new specifications each grade is defined as to size and the number of defects occurring to the use to which it is intended to bo put. It is anticipated that the new gradings will eliminate the disputes between miller and merchant and between merchant and consumer. The consumer will 1)0 able to order on a definite sped (ication aiul will know il lie gets it. It: is the intention to instill an inspec j torial grading system throughout the country, operating from a central grading station as a guarantee that a uniform product is supplied . Tn place of the present grades, which are very numerous, and which vary in every region of the Dominion, it is proposed to create live standard grades Select A, Select li. Medium A. .Medium 11. and Common. Select A will contain timber which is suitable for a natural finish, Select li timber which will take a paint finish. Medium A will he timber which is suitable, in some instances, tor a paint finish but which is generally very suitable building timber, Medium B will he timber which is suitable for general building purposes. Common grade will include lumber which lends itsell to rough and temporary usage. I Each of these grades will be divided | into three distinct classes according to j the quantity of heart occurring in each [ piece. No. 1 class .will be all heart, j X«. 2 at least 50 per cent heart : throughout the hoard (with the additional provision that any cross-section must show at least 25 per cent heart). No. 3 will include all timber of Ultimo 50 per cent heart. This grade will also include hoards having a large percentage of heart in the aggregate which -how less than 25 per cent heart in certain cross-sections. I'oi example. Select A. No 1. "ill consist heart timber suitable for a high natural finish, whereas select A N.i 3 "'’ ,l be timber suitable for finish purposes but containing little or no heart. At present certain .specifications cal! for either American timber or heart Xow Zealand timbers. "Under the new grading Select A Xo. 2 class timbers will be called for instead of all heart. This is a matter of the first importance to the timber industry and amounts to the granting of a pica which the millers have frequently made to the Government. It is expected, also, to put them in a better position against the imported lumber.