STATE-OWNED MILLS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 284, 30 November 1928, Page 8

STATE-OWNED MILLS.

WEST AUSTRALIAN TIMBER. EIGHT MILLS WORKING. SUPERINTENDENT IN AUCKLAND.

The Government of Western Australia is largely interested in the sawinilling industry. A Labour Government introduced the idea of ."?cate-owned mills and now there are no less than eighi mills from which limber is sent out to all parts of the State. Mr. Alfred Dean, superintendent of Government sawmills, arrived by die Ulfcnaroa to-day for a month's holiday in New Zealand, and while here he hopes to

visit some of the "Kauri Timber Company's forest areas. For a term of two years he was engineer to that company in Australia. The "K.T.C.", Mr. Dean says, has recently erected another large mill at Nannup, about 200 miles from Perth. Generally speakinji, Mr. Dean says, the timber industry is quiet in Western Australia. This is due largely to the extensive importation of Oregon pine from America. "Our principal timbers, 7, he said, "are karrie and jarrah. both of which are hard. Our own timbers were used for the making of the trans-Conti-nental railway, and for this purpose they are, when treated, excellent." Asked if much timber found its way from New Zealand to Western Australia, Mr. Dean said that kauri was being largely used for cabinet work. He believes that the development of more trade in timber between our two countries is desirable and he favours tlie use of New Zealand timber in preference to pine from America.