C—3a

In respect to (b) above, it is my opinion that much more can be achieved by way of co-operation between forestry and industry in New Zealand, particularly between the New Zealand Forest Service and the organized industry. In my opinion, a permanent Council of interested Government Departments—New Zealand Forest Service, Treasury, Works, Labour and Employment —woodworking industries, labour, and private forest owners should be set up under State forest legislation to ensure the co-ordination of the various interests in the formulation of forest policy and utilization. In respect to (c), it is imperative that each employer undertake the training of unskilled labour within his own operations, rather than seek to obtain experienced labour by competitive bidding. The trend towards integration of various wood-using industries deserves careful consideration in the establishment of milling units on a permanent basis, so that, where possible, the waste products of one industry may constitute the raw material for a subsidiary industry. It is regrettable in respect to (e) that greater progress has not been made in New Zealand in the establishment of a centralized scientific and industrial research in wood technology on the lines of the Forest Products Division of C.S.I.R. in Australia, and Forest Products Laboratories in Canada and the United States of America. Whilst the problems confronting New Zealand in the utilization and maintenance of its exotic forests differ very materially from those confronting the European and Scandinavian countries, it is apparent that a great deal can be learned from the long experience of these countries in the utilization of their softwood timber to best advantages, and the maintenance of sustained yield from the forests. It is apparent also that in the formulation of forest policy, both for State and private enterprise, and for the formulation of plans for maximum utilization, due regard to the trends operating in the major timber-producing countries must be given due and serious consideration. To this end, attendance at such conferences by representatives of forestry and industry, both State and private, is more than justified. Indications at the Congress would suggest that most countries in the world are facing a diminution in timber-supplies due to overcutting, and that economic world supplies are likely to fall short of demand, particularly in the higher grades. These circumstances, combined with the difficulties of supply from Canada and the United States of America due to shortage of dollars, offer to New Zealand a unique opportunity of consolidating and expanding its timber exports to Australia, if the present difficulties of shipping, labour, plant, and equipment can be overcome. CHAPTER lI—TIMBER INDUSTRY IN CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. With the exception of a one-day trip to the operations of the Hammond Lumber Co., Ltd., in the redwood forests at Eureka, the fortnight was spent in the vicinity of Vancouver. To view the Canadian industry in its proper perspective it is necessary to remember that the shipments of the coast sawmills of British Columbia alone totalled 2,130,000,000 ft. in 1947 and 2,163,000,000 ft. in 1948, distributed as under : Per Cent. Per Cent. Total Canada .. .. 818,000,000 39 930,000,000 43 Total United States of America .. .. 203,000,000 9 495,000,000 23 British Empire .. .. 963,000,000 45 664,000,000 31 Other export .. .. 146,000,000 7 74,000,000 3 2,130,000,000 2,163,000,000

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