More Local Woods Will Now be Used

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 607, 8 March 1929, Page 8

More Local Woods Will Now be Used

CITY BY-LAW RELAXED

SAP TIMBER PERMITTED

In relaxing its by-laws relatino to the use of Heart timber m outside work in house-building, th* Auckland City Council will substantially encourage the use 0 f local woods so far as Auckland i s concerned. Now 50 per cent, of the log can be used, as against 10 pep cent, previously.

The council last evening had before it the report of a special timber committee comprising departmental officers and timber milling experts, which for two yejh’s has been investigating the possibility of using medium-grade Zealand timbers. Hitherto the coup, cil’s timber by-laws rigidly compelled the use of heart wood only in outsid© work, and all efforts to have the law relaxed had failed.

The Timber Committee reported last evening that its early discussions with the sawmillers showed their chief difiu culty in marketing timber was in get. ting sales for the whole of the product cf the log, and unless more of the tun. ber other than heart could be utilised for building purposes it would mean that heart would probably rise in price and the already large stocks of ordinary and common grades of timber held would still be further added to.

Hence it was decided to bring in a new grade which was defined as medium, containing not less than 50 per cent, of heart wood in any piece and not less than 25 per cent, of heart wood in any cross-sect'on.

The object of the committee was to deline a grade of timber suitable for outside construction above the plinth in place of heart timbers. The experts connected with the State Forest Service and the Government architect were of opinion yiat this medium grade, if properly seasoned, primed and painted, would give practically the same service as heart in most localities. On the recommendation of the Works Committee the proposals wef adopted, the council reaffirming its policy of using New Zealand timber wherever possible.