Chain-saw Revolutionised Bush Work In New Zealand

Taupo Times, Volume XIV, Issue 62, 10 August 1965, Page 3

Chain-saw Revolutionised Bush

Work In New Zealand

The chain-saw has revolutionised bush work in New Zealand. Until about 1949 there were scarcely any in the country, but now their high pitched note can be heard practically anywhere where men are working "in the sticks." They replaced the cross-cut saw for felling, limbing and thinning, and can be used for many other purposes. Yel, according to men who have been employed in the bush for manu bushmen did not like the chain-saw when it first came in.

"We were a bit frightened of them," said one. The advent of the chainsaw in New Zealand go-es hack to ahout 1929, when a two-man German Stihl saw weighing 1201b. was used in the South Island. One of them is still in working order, but not used on the

job any more because of its weight. The Canadians grabbed the German patent during World War II, made improvements and went into production in a big way. It was not until 1949, however, that they met with any demand in New Zealand. From then until 1951, the chain-saw started to replace the cross-cut, but they were mostly two-man saws. One-man saws started coming into New Zealand in quantity about 1953, but doubles remained in use up to about 1956. Since then they have disappeared and the numbers of one-man saws have increased by thousands each year.

Chain-saws have made the work much easier. Gangs of eight or nine men can now achieve an output whieh took gangs of 13 or 14 men before they were adopted. Although men could beat the chain-saw with the cross-cut on the first cut, they progressively lagged behind in subsequent cuts. Only the N.Z. Forestry Service _ provide organised instruction in the use of chain-saws, and this is given to forestry cadets. Some of the larger logging concerns also provide a eertain amount of instruction. Experienced operators and distributors say that the chain-saw is a good servant, but a dangerous toy. There are now probably more than 50 types of chainsaws being used in New Zealand. The handling and maintenance of chain-saws is taught in special schools in Europe and the Government of West Germany has found it pays to sponsor such schools. Some European Governments will not allow operators to use a chain-saw in their forests until they have qualified at such a school. Lumbermen's schools in West Germany are self-con-tained, complete with their own wood-lots and accommodation for tuition and living. They teach, in 14-day courses, all there is to know about the use and maintenance of chain-saws in the German forests. Other lec-

tures cover normal bush procedure. Practical and theoretical examinations are held on the courses and successful trainees qualify for diplomas. One school alone trains about 1500 men a year, and there are 17 of them. The training has been found not only a m-eans of increasing effieiency, but also leads to greater produetivity. No such schools exist in the United States, but it has been suggested that forest schools should encourage a programme of vocational training for those who wish to become loggers or equipment operators. Manufacturers' representatives and distributors frequently run classes for

dealers, who pass on their knowledge to chain-saw" users, however. Some go to a lot of trouble to do so. The average New Zealand bushman, no doubt, is quite capable with a chain-saw, having picked up the "know how" from his mates or dealers. In this country, however, with the exotic timber industry expanding at such a phenomenal pace, such schools as those operating in Germany could make a very valuable contribution to both technical knowledge and general effieiency in bush work. The need for some tuition is evinced by the number of chain-saw operators who take their saws to the dealers for repairs or adjustments which could have been avoided had the saw been handled and maintained properly. Such visits cause needless expenditure and waste time, which in turn adversely affects production. The "defect" in the saw might have been cured by replacing a plug or cleaning out an air breather. The operator blames the machine, the manufacturer and the dealer — but not himself. He has probably never thought it necessary to learn the rudiments of maintenance.