GRADES OF TIMBER.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 95, 23 April 1928, Page 8

GRADES OF TIMBER.

THE NEW STANDARD.

WEARING COMPLETION.

TO ELIMINATE DISPUTES.

(By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.")

V\ ELLINGTON, this day.

The proposals for new standard grades of timbers which the Government launched twelve months ago are nearing completion. Already there is in sight the big congress of architects, millers, builders and local body representatives which is to endorse the new scheme.

Finding difficulty in obtaining definite grades of New Zealand timbers for its constructional work, the Government called a preliminary conference of departmental heads to investigate the question of preparation of standard grades. The New Zealand Sawmillers' Federation was co-opted for the work, and the Government is to be recommended to allow the use of 50 per cent heart timber in positions where at present only 100 per cent heart lumber may be used." This recommendation is to he made with the qualification that the fifty per cent heart boards must be properly seasoned. Lnder the new specifications each srade is defined as to size, and the number of defects occurring in it, according to the use to which the timber is to b" put. \\ hat arc defects in panelling, for instance, are not defects in rough scantlincr. It is anticipated that the new jrrading will eliminate the disputes between miller and merchant and between merchant and consumer. The consumer will be able to order on a definite speci fication, and will know if he «jets it. It is proposed to instal an inspectorial ffradinjr system throughout the country, operating from a central grading station, as a guarantee that a uniform product will be supplied.

Tn place of the existing grades which are very numerous and which vary in every rejrion of the Dominion, it is pronosed to create five standard grades— Select A. Select B. Medium A. Medium R. and Common. Select A will contain timber which is suitable for a natural finish. Select B timber which will take a paint finish. Medium A will be lumber which, in some instances, will be suitable for a paint finish and which is generally very suitable buildins timber. Medium R will be timber which is siptahlo inordinary building purposes, and Common grade will include lumber which lends itself to roujjh and temporarv usage. Each of these grades will be subdivided into three distinct classes according to the quantity of heart occurring in "*<h piece. Xo. 1 class will be all heart. Xo. 2 at least fifty per cent heart throughout the board (with the additional provision that any cross-section must shew at least 25 per cent hearth Xo. 3 will include all timber of less than fifty per cent heart. This grade will also include boards having a large percentage of heart in the aggregate 0 which show less than 25 per cent heart in certain cross-sections. For example, Select A, Xo. 1, will consist of heart timber suitable for a high natural finish whereas Select A, No. 3. will be timber suitable for finish purposes, but containing little or no heart.

At present certain specifications call for either American timber or heart New Zealand timbers. Under the new grading Select A, Xo. 2 class timbers will be called for instead of all heart. This is a matter of great importance to the timber industry, and amounts to tingranting of a plea which the millers have frequently made to the Government. It is expected, also. t<y put them in a better position to meet the competition of imported lumber.