Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 20 October 1928, Page 4

Apropos the recent visit of the Empire Forestry delegation, it is interesting to note by a late commercial English paper that the United Kingdom dn 1927 imported timber to the value o* some £50,000,000, a figure second only, among raw materials, to those of cotton and wool, yet 90 per cent, of this came from foreign countries, although the Empire has great forest resources. The position clearly merits attention, and in the recently published report of the. Imperial Economic Committee on timber a very interesting review is presented of the whole question of preparing for market and marketing, Empire timber. The problems fall into two main categories. First it is necessary to deckle what Empire woods .are suitable For the British user; and secondly, what methods of preparation and marketing are desirable for. the establishment of such words in favour here. The Committee holds that it is from Canada we must expect any large increase in supplies of Empire grown soft woods, and regards the Douglas fir as having great possibilities in this country. The Empire’s potential wealth of hardwoods k stated to be very large, and capable of development with advantage in many directions. In fact the conclusions show that there are Empire woods to meet the requirements of the British user. As regards preparation and marketing. the Committee suggests a number of changes that should he made, and emphasizes the need for a supply regular in quantity and quality, and for a method of preparation suitable to the methods of users Further, it is pointed out that the introduction of Empire timbers involves a. risk “that exporters, with or without Government aid, must he prepared to take,” and a policy of restraint is advocated in the number of new varieties immediately introduced in the market. Empire timber has considerable, though, by no means insuperable, difficulties to face, but the report shows that suitable woods are available, and the size of the British demand makes it very well worth while for Empire producers to adapt their methods of preparation and marketing to the requirements of this country. The future, therefore, should find Great Britain drawing a far larger proportion of its timber from Empire sources than it does today. The present year might well be trending towards that more satisfactory conclusion and it is to he hoped the subject will be taken up with serious intent.