Manawatu Herald THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1920. SUPPLIES OF TIMBER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2195, 28 October 1920, Page 2

Manawatu Herald THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1920. SUPPLIES OF TIMBER.

ST.VIiISTiCS showing the great increase in supplies of timber for use in Neva Zealand are contained in the annual report of the Forestry Depart men l. The report stales that shortage of coastwise shipping has prevented the- utilisation within the Dominion of the full production. It also observes that the increased values of indigenous limber have resulted in jho Celling and utilisation of huge (|uanfities of Finns radiala from farmers' plantations and shelter holts. In many eases (hose plantation trees had reached their natural maturity, and. • provided new plantations are made, their use for timber was advisable, hut it is io lie leafed that I ugh prices have induced many fanners lo fell plantations which should have been retained for shelter purpose's. According lo informal ion furnished by the Board of Trade, the actual output, in superficial feet, of the various kinds of timbers from New Zealand sawmills during the year (‘tided March 81st, 11)20, was as follows:' —While pin* 82,410,821: rimn, 145,584,203; kauri, 22,598,801; malai. .17,820,597; lolara, 14,414,208; heeeh, 0.050.844; hinau, 4,847 ; Lira ire, 174.050; tanekaha, 54,328; pukalea, 200.000; pinns insignis, 8,004,201; hJnegtim, 80,000; kahikawaka, 5(1,000; silver pine, 50,000; total, 200,105,080 sup. ft. The output is OS,-805,000-sup. fl.-above thal of the year ended March 81sl, 1010, and shows greatly increased activity in the sawmilliug business. In addition imports of timber totalled 10,807,042 sup. ft., an increase over the previous year of 0,007,508 ft. On (he other hand the amount exported is less by approximately 1.5,000,000 ft. limn for the previous year, the details for the past year being as follows; —-Kauri 3, 1 10,010, white pine 34,827,102, rimn 12,125,880, beech 772,001, miscellaneous (New Zealand) 2,204,588, not New Zealand 15,092; total, 53,725,002 sup. ft. Commenting on these figures, the chairman of tlie Board of Trade, Mr W. G. McDonald, made a comparison between the returns for the last financial year and those for 1017-18 (supplies were less in 191810 than in 1017-18). He said the output of building timber (rimn, kauri, matai, and tolara) for 101020 was 200,417,489^ sup, ft,, as againsl 158,470.680 for 1917-18. Tims the increase for 1919-20 was 55,633,872 ft. (41.4 per cent.). A very satisfactory aspect of this increase was that the proportion of building timber exported in 1919-20 was only 5| per cent., compared with 28 per cent, in 1917-18. Dur-

in" fhe two years finder review the proportion placed on (he Joca Imarket rose from 77 per cent, to 1)4:,* per eeni. “Even if (lie very limited export of building limber were slopped,’’ Air McDonald explained, “the quantity available for use in Now Zealand wl)uld not be increased. Not sufficient coastal shipping would be available to lift all the timber produced at some mills for use in the Dominion. If a certain measure of export to Australia did not help to clear the skids they would become congested, and' milling - operations would be checked, with the result that a, number of men would bo tlu’own out of employment. While they lost their wages, New Zealand would not have any additional supplies of building timber for use here. The Board of Trade is continuing to take" every possible care to ensure, that building timber will be utilised for essential-purposes only throughout the Dominion by the operation of the building regulations,” Mr McDonald added. “Until the country overtakes the arrears caused by the years of war and (lu* new .demand for essential building required by many returned sbhliers, there will be difficulties, but the figures quoted show that relief to the'Community as a whole must come within a measurable fulure if the increased rate of production is maintained.”