BRIGHT PROSPECTS FOR TIMBER EXPORT

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 257, 22 June 1932, Page 5

BRIGHT PROSPECTS FOR TIMBER EXPORT

("Post" Special Commissioner.)

n.z. silver beech MAMAKU DISTRICT SUITABLE FOR GROWING LARGE SUPPLIES OVERSEAS FIRMS INTERESTED

WELLINGTON, Tuesday Considerable interest is heing j taken by the timber industry in neI gotiations hetween Southland sa'w- | millers and the Briggs Motor Body I Building Company of England for the supply of 9,000,000 feet of silver beech wood for the construction of motor bodi.es. These negotiations are also of direct interest to the Rotorua district for it is one of th'e few areas in New Zealand which is considered suitable for the commiercial growing of silver heech. Should arrangements he made, " it is anticipated that exports of this wood will give a great fillip to the timber industry in spite of the fact that the great majority f he silver beech growth oecurs only in Otago and Southland. The position is that until recently, New Zealand was producing 8,000,000 feet of silver heech annually, ancl of this, about 3,000,000 feet went to Australia where it was used for a variety of purposss, mainly motor body building and the manufaeture of farm implements. There has, however, been a decline in the motor body building trade in the Commonwealth, and any assistance New Zealand can get from English motor manufacturers will be of considerable vakn, especially in view of the state of the timber industry at the present time. Useful Timber Experts declare that silver beech, which is not to be confused with the four other varieties of beech, is eminently suitable for motor bodies on aecount of its lightness and great strength. It is 30 per cent. lighter than the wood at present being used hy the English builders but it is much stronger than the heavier woods. In addition, it finishes excellently. Receott investigati'ons show that silver heech is suitable for a 1 wide variety of uses and it should be possible for New Zealand to huild up an export trade of millions of feet annually, provided that production costs will enable it to be marketed at a reasonahle price. It '"s stated that Mamaku, near Rotorua, and the West Coast of the South Island are the two places which are most suitable -for the growing* of this timber outside Southland and Otago. A trial shipment is being sent Home on the Karamea this month, and millers are anxiously awaiting the verdict of the overseas buyers who are in a position to take huge orders if the price is right.