Timber Supplies and Restriction of Export.

Progress, Volume XIV, Issue 10, 1 June 1919, Page 528

Timber Supplies and Restriction of Export.

Replies to Statement by Sir Francis Bell. A statement was issued recently by Sir Francis Bell, the Minister-in-Charge of the Forestry Department, concerning the conservation of the timber supplies of the Dominion. . For some days a conference of timber millers has been in progress in Wellington, and recently the chairman of the Conference, Mr Butler, gave the “Times” an interview covering a number of the points mentioned in the Minister statement. “With respect to the restriction of exportation,” said Mr Butler, “there are good grounds for believing that the restriction recently proposed by Australia on the exportation of coal is to some extent a retaliatory measure. Although it may be contended that there is ample room in New Zealand for the profitable conduct of the industry without the aid of foreign markets, it is a notable fact that the foreign markets that have been developed have to a very large extent absorbed a class of timber that could not be placed on the New Zealand markets. In the case of the West Coast bushes this is very noticeable, and it is a fact that the output per acre has increased to such an extent as to recompense any excess of wastage of New Zealand forest" asset that it may have been claimed has occurred through exportations. This has been confirmed by official reports of the rangers. The chief aim of a progressive forestry policy should be to utilise the whole of the forest products.

"As to the assertion that the high prices obtained for our woods outside New Zealand had inflated their price within New Zealand, it should be borne

in mind that it is sound economy that any exports should return the highest possible value for the benefit of the community, and in most cases where high prices are obtained for part of the output it enables the producer to sell the balance used within the country at a more reasonable price than would otherwise be the case. It is false economy to restrict' an export and prevent it from being given its highest value. Generally the efforts of the Government have been in the direction of striving to obtain the highest prices for exports. Even the head of the Government has insisted on this time and again in respect to the meat, wool, butter and cheese sold to the Imperial Government. All economists must recognise the soundness of this policy, and we are amazed that any other policy should be pursued in regard to timber.

Timber and the Cost of Building

"Just here it would be well to point out that it is too often erroneously supposed that timber is a very big factor in the cost of building. A case was recently brought under my notice where a residence at Palmerston North was contracted for. The price for a six-roomed house was £1175, an average of about £2OO per room. As showing to what a small extent timber entered into this figure, I am informed that the cost of the timber delivered on the job ran out at £44 per room. The timber stipulated was chiefly of the higher grade.

"We have noticed that the Farmers' Union ismaking representations to the Government to remove restrictions on the export of their products, and we have taken the opportunity of communicating with them, endorsing their action, and asking them to support the extension of the principle to apply to timber as well as to their own products.

"When it became apparent to the saAvmillers that something should be done to secure to the primary industries the maintenance of their supplies of timber, Ave gave all the assistance in our power towards regulating our industry to meet those requirements. I think Ave might claim that Ave did this to an extent not shoAvn by any other industry, with the result that in no case in the Dominion are any of those industries hampered for the want of timber for the packing of their products.

Concerning Scientific Forestry. "With respect to the recent reforms controlling the sale of standing timber, it is a deplorable fact that while the owner of the land may not sell the timber for milling purposes without the sanction of the Crown, no such sanction is required where it is intended to cut down the timber and destroy it. It is on 'such points as these that a progressive forestry policy could find ample scope for development.

\ "Speaking of the 'destruction of the forests,' this; is a phrase too often used when referring to the legitimate working of the bush. In most cases it is no more applicable than to say that the harvesting of a crop of wheat is destroying that crop.

Viewed from another point, the legitimate milling of every acre of bush means the raising of a cottage, for from an acre of bush the quantity of* timber needed for a cottage is obtained.

"Concerning scientific forestry, as enunciated by Sir Francis Bell, we must admit that we have much to learn, and in the matter of preserving the younger trees in forests where the matured trees are being removed it seems that immediate action should be taken by the Forestry Department to demonstrate that such operations could be carried out without unduly inflating the price of timber. The establishment of a State sawmill might be quite justified if it did nothing more than show the practicability of some of the methods that are outlined in publications that have come before us relating to forestry development in New Zealand. In any case it will be most instructive to those engaged in the timber industry if the State sawmills, which we may assume will be established in the Waipna kauri forest, are conducted on strictly' commercial lines, and the results of their operations made available to those engaged in the industry.

"Touching the question of the life of the supplies of white v pine for the dairy industry, it should be noted that since the regulations regarding its exports have been made, a butter box has been patented which would ensure the extension of the visible supplies for a period about seventeen times as long as was previously estimated.

"It goes without saying that- the sawmillers are deeply interested in forestry, and it means the continuity of their industry. Our only anxiety is that it should be conducted on practical and economic lines. — Times.