TIMBER INDUSTRY

Hokitika Guardian, 8 October 1932, Page 2

TIMBER INDUSTRY

AN INTERVIEW.

WITH ,MR D. TENNENT

GRE'YMOUTHj October 8,

In the i.course of-an interview Mr 1 I). iTerment, who recently returned from Australia, said in regard to statements, credited to Mr .Jaimes O’Brien •on the .West Coast trad© in 1-imu with . Australia, that though every one must admit Mr O’Brien’s sincere ■desire to held forward this trade, in the interest'of the district, he is not Sufficiently versed in the business to avoid being \ misled occasionally. In the statement that N.Z. millers would hot provide dry i 4£xl for flooring, he certainly was misled. When West Coast sawmillere first started on this trade they financed with certain Australian merchants stocks up to five million feet of dry fßimu, chiefly 4-J-xl and 6£xl for flooring, and similar widths for lining, and thi's trade was in a fair way to be of solid ■ advantage to both N.Z. and Australia, when Sir, F. Bell, as Forestry Commissioner, - came on the scene, and ruined the business under the islogan “N.Z. timber for New Australian merchants got rid of their stocks of Rimu when they realised that they could not rely on future supplies. Then came the concession by Sir Francis to allow millers to export as much as N.Z. imported. An allowance that until very recently—when imports fell 75 per cent, in some kinds—millers have not been able to take full advantage of, as all the g.'ound lost had to be rewon. Today, there are large .stocks of dry 4-Jxl Rimu in Sydney, and much more held by We’st Coast millers with over two years’ seasoning, and although this is offered cheaper than the grain timber, the tatter is preferred. The reason given being that merchants prefer to dry the timber in Australia.

No doubt this feature would speedily disappear if there was any building going on in N.S.W. or Victoria, but unfortunately there is, practically none, adds (Mr Tennent. The only timber .businesses that seem to be doing anything worth while are the casemakers—fruit, butter, clieege, rabbits, eggs etc. For all of these -except cheerve and butter, Canadian hemlock is the chief timber -used, and it is awed very extensively. White pine holds pride of place for the butter as the perfect container, although experiments are being made contt'nuouflv to find means of adopting other timber to this purpose. N.Z. miller* have faith lin.the Rimu as one of the most useful 'building timbers known, and are doing all possible to find markets for it. and no doubt as trade improves, IRimu will very largely share in the improvement.