C.—3

17

2. Industrial Technique. In the field of logging, milling, and marketing, industrial technique continues to show some improvement. Logging ranks as the most efficient operation of the industry, and better logging and yarding equipment is being developed, and improved logging tramways installed. Overhead or high lead logging systems continue to grow in popularity, but whether these are adaptable to all classes of forest, either from an economical or a silvicultural point of view is doubtful. Improvement in milling practice is hindered by under-capitalization and by the surplus of second-hand machinery available throughout the Dominion. In many instances also, mills are underpowered and undermachined, but in this latter direction a real improvement is evident. The downward trend of prices since 1921 has forced producers to study more intensively than ever before the possibilities of reducing costs of production, a reflection of which is found in the wider use of electrical motors and of various classes of internal-combustion engines such as diesels, &c., as prime movers; sawing technique, however, has not kept abreast of this development, and the use of better carriages and of handsaws now appear desirable. Signal progress has been achieved in the marketing field, the industry having adopted during the last year the Grading and Classification Rules for Building Timbers developed by the special Government Timber Committee in 1928. This removes, therefore, one of the difficulties under which the industry has been operating for many years, different standards and grades having existed not only in the various sawmilling regions, but also in individual mills. Wood users and consumers have suffered from this handicap, and should accordingly benefit from the new standardized national grading rules. Little progress, however, has been registered in the field of seasoning technique. As noted last year, insanitary yards, poor drainage, low foundations, poor filleting and piling, &c., appear almost typical of the average sawmill operations, and no marked improvement is likely until it is frankly recognized that the ultimate responsibility for the seasoning of timber rests with the producer. Viewed from the practical standpoint, the consumer can purchase well-seasoned imported timber, whereas the local product, even when so-called " dry," at an advance of 3s. per 100 ft. b.m. on green prices, carries no guarantee that it is properly air-seasoned, but may further dry out and shrink after delivery. Obviously, the responsibility for the condition of his timber does not concern the consumer. His one consideration is that it be delivered for use in a satisfactory condition, and the ultimate responsibility for ensuring this must logically rest with the producer. 3. Exports. The export trade in timber for the year ended 31st December, 1929, was higher than for the two previous years of 1928 and 1927, the respective figures being 39,154,000 ft. b.m., valued at £439,950 ; 35,029,000 ft. b.m., valued at £377,480; and 37,181,000 ft. b.m., valued at £425,930. The average f.o.b. value also showed a considerable increase on the 1928 figure, although still a little lower than the 1927 value, the respective figures being 225. 6d., 21s. 7d., and 235. per 100 ft. b.m. Australia continues to absorb practically the whole of our timber exports, but inquiries from the United Kingdom continue to increase, and the Government, in co-operation with various national and regional sawmilling organizations, is increasing its trade-extension activities in Europe to promote the wider utilization of such hardwoods as silver beech and tawa, of which New Zealand possesses a surplus supply. During the past year the Australian timber tariff was revised in favour of New Zealand woods, an increased tariff being placed on Scandinavian and American timbers. Ultimately this should result in an increased export of all species, but it is possible that no marked improvement will take place until the Commonwealth has recovered from its present trade depression. Practically the whole of the exports are of rough-sawn material, dressed lines comprising only 5-8 per cent, of the total exports. As in previous years white-pine comprised the bulk of the export trade, representing in quantity 78 per cent, of the total exports, as compared with only 72f per cent, during the year ended 31st December, 1928.

TABLE 8. Exports of Sawn Timber and other Forest-produce.

3—C. 3.

(From information supplied by the Comptroller of Customs. All figures refer to the years ended 31st December, 1927-29.) 1927. 1928. 1929. Item. ; — Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. Ft., B.M. £ Ft., B.M. £ Ft., B.M. £ White-pine .. .. 27,802,000 289,980 25,439,000 262,390 30,493,000 317,990 Rimu .. .. .. 3,841,000 36,180 4,867,000 42,290 3,122,000 27,140 Beech .. .. .. 2,581,000 37,330 2,24-6,000 29,780 3,016,000 39,700 Kauri .. .. .. 2,476,000 57,090 1,670,000 35,700 2,123,000 51,040 Other (New Zealand) .. 464,000 4,870 750,000 6,850 349,000 3,470 Other (foreign) .. .. 17,000 480 57,000 470 51,000 610 Totals .. .. 37,181,000 j 425,930 35,029,000 377,480 39,154,000 439,950 Tons. £ Tons. £ Tons. £ Kauri-gum .. .. 4,674 298,630 4,394 240,140 4,937 267,610 Tanning-bark .. .. 38 650 43 5S0 53 900 Fungus .. .. .. 141 20,310 12 1,270 76 9,200