EMPIRE WOODS.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 October 1928, Page 6

EMPIRE WOODS.

POTENTIAL MARKETS. • .■* - • ••-• London, Au g . 24. The Imperial Economic Committee has recently apliecl itself to- the question of how best timber rescources of the Empire may be utilised, and its findings are summarised in a report—the tenth of a series. Its two main conclusions are:

‘Canada, is in a position to supply in increasing* quantities much of the soJ - wood requited in tins country. The utilisation of lighter hardwoods &f which there is aii abundance within the Empire, in place of soft * woods, should be carefully explored. -In the meantime, the cemmittee ipoints out, much can be done by public bodies find companies by exercising a voluntary preference L nfavour of Empire timbers. 'lh this connection the action of the Office of Works is noticed as “ a useful and interesting progression.” In their earlier specifications, foreign timbers were stipulated for certain uses. Later a choice was permitted between foreign woods and certain named- Empire woods. Finally in. April this year, it was announced in the House of Commons that ‘‘as a general rule only British Empire tim ■bfer will be specified for carpenters’ and joiiiers’ work in Office of Works’ building contracts.” OAK FROM UNITED STATES.

So far as Empire-grown soft woods are concerned, it is from Canada that apyi large ipcre&se-.j'in /Supplies-' expected, %ntf attention'' is specially directed to the possibilities of extending the- use in/the /United Kingdom of Douglas fir from British Columbia. The methods of conversion of timber in that province -are'- at- present? m.ain.ly -'demgm; ed' for the needs of North American markets, and the committee, suggests that if the export trade with tlie'United Kingdom is to be fuereaSed there will have to be study of the special lequirements of this market. Of the hard woods; oak heads tlie list as occupying “a sensational place in public esteem which.-, no'other? wood enjoys.” But it- is not generally realised that three-quarters of this typically English timber is grown in tne United, Stages.: Over. £2,000,000- is spent on imported oak every year, oi which less than 1 per cent, is supplied from within the Empire. A still mote remarkable- fac f t bropgh.t opt in- the. report is that three-quarters of the imports of sawn mahogany into the United Kingdom in 1926 came from America, where: the tree does hot grbiv. Tlie committee LVivisages the, 'day when ill e Dominion - . I, visitor may'be told with pride that the woodwork he sees and the floors he walks upon are made from Empire timbers, whether he be visiting a town hall,--"-a, tinyersity,'-- 1 a bank, a company’s offices; or a /school.

SOME LITTLE KNOWN WOODS. An appendix gives interesting examples of the purpose ©f utility and of -decoration to which ‘ Empire timbers whose names are still unfamiliar to the public have already been put. A bridge across the Thames at Henley built of Pyankadu, -an exceptionally durable hardwood'from. India, -is instanced, as ,well as the .panelling, -pews, and doors of All Saints’ Paddington, in which Padauk, another Indian wood has been used. Greenlipart, from British;.Guiana'/.prised. JFor the 1 qualities 'which make-it a valuable: .component .of /fishing rods, has also, been used -for pock -gates' at Southampton,.'while Kenya cedarwood is shown to -be competing with.' American cedar in. the provision of material for the manufacture of pencils. The. voting lobby of the London County Hall has been pannelled with Indian laurelwood, the Southern Railway uses Australian walnut in its coacliwork, the L.M.S silver greywood from India, and the G.W.R. white cedar from North Borneo for the tinderframes of coaches. Gurjun, a littleknown Indian wood, is also used for coacliwork by several railway companies, while the tables of Lyon’s Corner House in Oxford street are made of. Australian silky oak.

It has been computed .that..the total consumption in the' United Kingdom in 1924 amounted to nearly 1,100,000, 000 cubic feet .of.;standing timber, and amount only 50,000,000 ctihic •ibejt'^..or 5.4 j per cent, were supplied. sources. Of theVtiiubpr imported in 1926, apArq3viffiateiy n .-i95 'per cent ot the soft woods'' aiid ’TQ per cent of the hard .woods •wei;6 : vderived from iloreign and not from Empire'sources.