TIMBER SUPPLIES

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10282, 17 May 1919, Page 7

TIMBER SUPPLIES

RESTRICTION OF EXPORT REPLIES TO STATEMENTS BY SIR FRANCIS BELL.

A statement whs issued recently by Sir Francis Bell,, the Minister-in Charge of the Forestry Department, concerning the conservation, of,-the timher supplies , of the Dominion. -For some days a conference of timber millers has been in progress in Wellington, and yesterday tbe chairman of the conference, Mr Butler. gave the “Times” an interview covering a number of the points mentioned in the Minister’s statement. “With respect ttrthe restriction" of ex- " portation,” said Mr Butler, “there are good grounds for believing that the restriction, recently proposed by Australia on the exportation of cane is to some extent a retaliatory measure. Although it may be contended that there is ample room in Now Zealand for the profitable conduct of the, industry „with-, out the aid of foreign, markets, is. is a. notable fact that tbe,,,fpi;cjgn markets that have been developed have to a very largo extent absorbed,-a-class, of timber that could not be placed on tbe New Zealand markets. In tlie caso of the West Coast bushes this is very noticeable, and it is a fact that the output per acre has increased to such an extent as to recompense any excess of wastage of New’Zealand < forest that it may have been claimed has occurred through exportations. This has been confirmed by official reports of the rangers. The chief aim of a progressive forestry policy should be. to“utilise the whole of tbe* forest products. Jo- -■ “As to the assertioii that...the,Jii.eb, price obtained for our woods outside New Zealand had inflated their price within New Zealand, it should bo borne in mind that it is sound .economy that any exports ' should. Return the . highest 'possible . value for the benefit, of the community, and in most cases where high prices are obtained for part of the output it enables tbe producer to sell the balance - used'witluniAHKecountry at a more reaKonable''prioc than - would otherwise be the case. It is false economy to restrict'an export and prevent it from being given its highest value. Generally the efforts of the Government have been in the direction of striving to obtain the highest, prices forexports. Even tho .head.of the .Government has -insisted .on., this .time -,-and again in respect 1 - to the meat, -wooL- 1 butter and cheese sold to the Imperial Government. All economists must, recognise the soundness of this policy, and wo are amazed that any other policy should bo pursued in regard to timber. • ■ - -

TIMBER AND THE COST OF BUILDING.

'“Just here it would be well to point_ out that it is too otten erroneously supposed that timber is a,, very big factor in tho cost' of building; ' A ease was recently brought "undeb ' niy notice where a residence at Palmerston North was contracted for. The price for a six-roomed" house Was £1175; an average of about £2OO per room. As showing to what a small extent timber entered into this figure, 1 am informed .that the cost ef tho timher p! dsJ,V?^ re^ 1 - p!u the job ran out at £44 per robnii Tho timber stipulated was chielly of the higher grade. “VVe have, noticed that the Farmers’ Union is making representations to the Government to remove restrictions on the export of their products, and we have taken the opportunity ol communicating with them, endorsing their action, and asking them to support the extension of tho principle to apply to timber as well own products. >’

"When it became apparent to t ne sawmillers that . something should,'.be done to secure to the primary; industries the maintenahce'’of their suplilies of timber, tie'gate’ all' the’as-,, sistance in our power towards repiilating our industry' to' meet those "~tk'- r quirements. I think we might claim that we did this to an' extent ••■"not shown by any other, industry, W’Ur the result that in no case, in the Do-, minion avo many of those industries hampered for the: wan; of the packing of their"products.

CONCERNING SCIENTIFIC FORESTRY.

“With respect Jo the recent;reforms, controlling the sale of standing timber, it is a. deplorable tact, that '.while the' owner of the land may not sell the timber for milling purposes - without the sanction of 'the Crown, no such sanction is required where it is intended to cut down the timber and destroy it. It is on such points -as these, that a progressive forestry policy could find ample . scope for develop ment

“Speaking of the ‘destruction otthV forests*’ tins is a .phrase too - ,:'-bft<!n used when referring to the legitimate working of the bush. ' cases it is no more apji'Rfc'h'ble 'than Jtd, -SW.' that the harvesting’ of a crop of wheat is destroying that crop. Viewed from another point, the legitimate mining of every acre of busn means the raising of a cottage, for. from an acre of bush the .quantity ■of timber needed for a cottage is obtained; ■■ • -- “Concerning scientific -forestry, as enunciated by Sir h runcis-'Hell, we mi;-'t admit that wo have much tolearn, and in tho matter of preserving the younger in forests where tlte matured trees ’ate 'being removed it seems that immediate.,action should,, bn taken by tho Forestry Department to demonstrate that such operations could ho carried out without unduly inflating tlie price -Of timber. The establishment of a State saiVniill. might be quite justified if it did nothing ' more than show the ,practicability of someof tho methods that are outlined in publications that'harr'Come befoTo us relating to forestry development an New Zealand. In any ca'Se it will bo, most instructive to those engaged in. tho timber industry, if the State sawmills, which we may assume will bo .established in the Waipua-kauri- forest, aro conducted on strictly commercial lines, and -the results of their operations’ made available to’ thbsb bhgage’d in the industry.

“Touching the question, of the life of the supplies of "white pine for the dairy industry, it should" noted that since the regulations, regarding its export have been made, *' ‘'’buttoy-' box has been patented ensure the extension of the visible supplies for a period about seventeen times as long as" itfls"' pfetiotrsTy'estimated. .

“It goes without hajTn'g that’ ’“the' sawmillors are deeply interested in forestry, and it jneans the. continuity;, of their industry., C>ur only anxiety, is that it should be conducted on practical and economic lines."