TIMBER TRADE

Hokitika Guardian, 4 March 1933, Page 6

TIMBER TRADE

N.Z. EXPORTS AND IMPORTS

GOOD 1932 OVERSEAS BALANCE

WELLINGTON, February 26

New Zealand’s overseas timber trade for ;1932 showed a favourable balance of over 20 million foet, board measurement, value at £170,360, as compared with am adverse trade balance during 1931 of .approximately two million foet, valued at £47,000, according to a statement made yesterday by the Commissioner of State Forests, Hon. E. A. Hansom. During the period 1928-30 there was an average adverse balance of 32 million feet, valued at £434,30(J. “Timber imports for 1932 eliow a marked decrease, and amount to only approximately one-third of the quantity imported during 1931, and 11 per cent, of the average annual importations for the period 1928-30,'’ IMr Ransom said. “A comparison of the figui'cß for individual items for 1932 and 1931 sbow,s that the deoi’eatve is distributed through all the items save oak. This timber maintains a steady tnade ‘mainly due <’to the fact fiha.t ■native timbers not do compete with it for the manufacture of the more expensive types of furniture. “Low imports of Australian hardwoods, Douglas fir and. redwood are due to continued slackness in construction and 'building traders. Competing native, timbers have almost entirely replaced hemlock and spruce, formerly used for manufacture of fruit caves, and imports of butter box ana cheese orate timbers have decreased owing to similar competition. During 1932 experts of timber have amounted to 27,500,000 ft. board ■measurement, valued at £254,000, as compared with 17,500,000 ft. board measurement valued at £174,000 for 1931. These figures indicate buying to replace depleted stocks and a general improvement : h conditions in woodusing industries in Australia and increased exports may be expected dining th 0 current year. White pine constituted over 80 per c.vnt. of tihe total exports and i,s expected to maintain a steady trade, its super'or'ty for 'but. ter boxes remaining rnchnllcingrd despite occasional contrary reports by authorities in Australia. Th e average value per 100 ft, board mersurenn-nt, for 1935 exports was 18s 7d a . 3 compared with 19s lOd for 1931