EXPORT OF TIMBER.

Otaki Mail, Volume XXVIII, 25 February 1920, Page 4

EXPORT OF TIMBER.

WHY IT PROCEEDS. j - AUSTRALIAN COAL IN RETURN, j The Government has been blamed in some quarters for permitting the export of timber to Australia at the present time., when there is an apparent shortage of timber within the Dominion. Referring to this matter on Tucs.lav, the Prime .Minister (Eight Hon. w! F. Massoy) said that the position j did not r.ppeni' to be generally tinder- j stood. It was a fact (hat certain quan- j tities of timber were being exported to Australia. The reason was that the , New Zealand Government, at the ex- ■ ..•ess request of the Australian Govern- f ment, had entered into a reciprocal ar- j rangement by which the Common- [ wealth was to allow the export of coal to the Dominion in return for certain New Zealand Umber, essential to the Commonwealth butler industry. "Not merely coal,' but also salt, superphosphates, wheat, and hardwoods arc required in New Zealand." added Mr Massey, "and we have to look to Australia, where export is under the control of the Commonwealth

Government, for a large proportion of tie se supplies. Another point is that boats bringing coal from Australia to New Zealand have to be sent back ion.led on the return voyage. They take timber cargoes in accordance with the arrangement with the Commonwealth Government. It is interesting to note that for the four months from July 1 last a total of 4,438,000 ft of timber was produced, which is equivalent to upwards of 25,000,000 ft for the i-enr. The export of timber for the period amounted to 1,245,000 ft only. equivalent to about 3,soo,oi)itft for the

ear. as compared with an export of 10.454,000 ft for'the year ended March •i.itas. \..&Wb