TIMBER INDUSTRY

Hokitika Guardian, 4 October 1932, Page 8

TIMBER INDUSTRY

ANNUAL REPORT iOF DIRECTOR OR FORESTRY WELLINGTON, September 29. Although during ! the year T 931-32 the domestc and export market for timber were weaker than at any previous period in the present century and the industry produced at only about 25 per cent o. the Director of Forestry in-ibis' annual report points out several signs of a coming trade revival. Although : building costs continue to (decline to new low levels for the pist-war period, the general lack of confidence in the economic situation coupled' with the excessive unemployment,’ has seriously restricted all constructional activities. The number of permits issued in the larger towns for- new dwellings was

only 1100 compared with 2700 during the previous twelve months, and with 7200 during the peak period of 1926-27, states the report. The total dwellings erected in the Dominion probably did- : not exceed 1400, indicating a deficiency of about ?000, since about 3500 dwellings are required normally to house the j natural increase of .population, ' While the ■ trend is still downwards and the deficiency largely offset by crowding and 1 double banking of families during depression, there is no large surplus of dwellings as measured by normal’ housing'standards. > ' '

j Boxes and Crates. j 1,. The domestic market for boxing and crating 'timber displayed a firm tone during the year, the increase in demand resulting from 'heavy exports of i dairy produce and fruit shipped in loca'lly-manufactured Shooks' in place of the-imported containers previously used. Tnsignis pine continues t to grow in favour for boxing and crating purposes | the (greater part of the Dominion’s fruit J exports and about' 35 per cent, of its ‘ clieesC exports being shipped in conv tamers manufactured either wholly or in part from this timber. The development of the local petroleum tinninc i business has also opened up a wide fi-il'd cfor'the species, and its is already ap- ' parent! that in "the near future, if not already, insignia pine will dominate the markets ’ for boxing and Creating timber.- ; ‘ -

« Reduced Imports. i Reduced constructional activities by », all Governmental agencies, both, central and local, have not improved the de- ; - marid for other forms of forest produce, continues':the- report, but the policy of purchasing locally-produced sleepers anci poles has ‘been 1 pursued wherever prac-ticable.--As pred.icted-iu' thfe’i'ast antffikl report, the British and international exchange position together with wages and price readjustments have enabled- 5 local millers to compete more effectively with imported woods'than at any-other time r,during the post-war-period. Practically the'whole of the importers commitments -’made prior to the depression j were ( worked off , during ; the year and consumers were - forced by the general trading Conditions to resort to hand-to-mouth buying and place their requirement 1 locally. Thus while imports for the'calendar' year .1931 total only 19,000,000 gt 8.M., and were the lowest sinbe 1920, for the current year ending . December, 1932, they promise to be still lower, the .figures for the first quarter’being less than 2,000,000 ft B.M. Export Trade Increasing. 1 The expert of only 18,000,000 ft B.M during tho calendar year, 1931, is the ' lowbst on record since 1883, but represents an adverse foreign trade balance of only 1,000,006 ft B.M.j which is the' smallest • since 1922. It resulted largely from the general depression and - ; overstocking of white pine in Australia. but 1 the sudden revival of the demand in the first quarter of 1932, during which 6,000,00()ft B.M. were shipped as comp pared with only 2,000,000 ft B.M. • dur- | ing’the corresponding period last year | suggests that the exhaustion of stocks | has lat last occurred and that supplies | must be renewed. In spite of conip' siderable research in Australia to locate pi timbers suitable ;or butter boxes and •;i attempts to disparage the value of 1 white pine for this purpose, the Com- | monwealth continues to use New Zea- ;:! land wood in preference to all others. | B*»sed upon foreign timber trade re|l turns o r ’the first quarter of 1932. lii there is a (favourable trade balance of j 5,000,000 ft B.fa., which augurs well for the export trade for the year.