TIMBER SUPPLY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 65, Issue 269, 24 August 1945, Page 5

TIMBER SUPPLY.

EXPORTS TO AUSTRALIA DEFENDED. i (P.A.) WELLINGTON, August 23. Because of the war, New Zealand’s supply of hardwoods for railway sleepers, electric reticulation, and for many industries had become critical, said Mr C. Morgan Williams (Government, Kaiapoi), speaking in the Budget debate in the House of Representatives to-day. Australia was the chief source of supply, and by what was virtually a barter agreement Australia undertook to supply New Zealand’s essential needs in return for supplies of softwoods from New Zealand. That was an agreement we must honour. Actually we had received far more timber from Australia in recent years than we had exported, and but for our exp iris under the agreement we would have nad fewer houses, not more, because it would have been necessary to divert men from the timber mills to the bush to cut sleepers. Mr Williams said that in Canterbury the amount of timber brought down by recent storms was equivalent to 2j years’ cutting for all the mills in Canterbury. The timber would nave to be handled quickly if it was not to deteriorate. He said something drastic should be done to. improve the labour supply, so all Canterbury mills could work two shifts cutting this timber for boxwood, while mature pinus insignis, which was being used for boxwood, should be reserved for housing. for which it had been proved satisfactory;