TIMBER INDUSTRY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 65, 17 March 1936, Page 10

TIMBER INDUSTRY.

MINISTER'S REVIEW.

THE BALANCE OF TRADE.

SATISFACTORY PROGRESS

Complete statistics regarding the external timber trade have been made available by the Hon. F. Langstone, Conservator of State Forests. Apparently the trade balance is reasonably satisfactory.

While from 1921 to 1931, states the Minister, tho quantity of timber imported each year into New Zealand was in excess of timber exports, since 1931 the reverse has been true. In 1935 a total of 31,221,000 feet board measurement, valued at £398,960, was imported, compared with 39,574,000 feet board measurement, valued at £364,000, exported. Considering the position since 1921 annual imports are still far below the peak of 82,000,000 ft recorded in 1925, whereas exports arc much nearer the peak of 52,000,000 ft recorded in the same year. The imports for 1935 consisted of 11,000,000 ft of Aus. traiian hardwoods, largely in the form of poles, piles,, crossarms and hoavy construction timbers, 12,000,000 ft /of Australian v hardwood sleepers, and 8,000,000 ft of other species. At present practically all the Australian hardwoods arc essential to New Zealafid, as durable timbers of requisite strength and size for the purpose for which the Australian hardwoods are used arc unobtainable from the native forests, although the establishment of a wood preserving industry will alter this position in years to comc. Competitive Imports. The* remaining 8,000,000 ft of timbct imported consists principally, but not entirely, of timbers which are directly competitive with native timbers, and includes 3,500,000 ft, of Douglas fir, oregon and, a ,J|ttle over 1,000,000 ft each of redwood, Japanese oak and box timbers, principally butter box. stooks. MUch of tho, Douglas fir is imported in large sizes and long lengths, which it is not convenient to most New Zealand sawmillers to cut, and the timber imported during 1935' capable of replacement by native species did not excecd 5,000,000 ft.

When it is (realised that the estimated production of timber in -New Zealand during 1933 was 300,000,000 ft, states the Minister, it is seen that the effect of the importations on the local industry is at present negligible.

Tho timber exports during 1935, continued the Minister, included 23,000,000 ft of white pine, 9,000,000 ft of rimu, 3,000,000 ft each of silver beech and matai, and smaller quantities of kauri (500,000 ft), and insignia pine, 1,500,000 ft. Exports of white pine werfe the same as in 1934 and still below the post-war average annual export of 29.000,000 ft of the species.

Rimu exports to Australia have grown rapidly during the past two years*, and the quantity shipped in 1935 was the greatest recorded since 1921. The trade iu matai, which is exported principally in the ordinary building grade, for which an adequate market is difficult to obtain in New Zealand, grew from practically nothing two years ago to almost 3,000,000 ft in 1935, an undoubtedly welcome business to the North Island matai sawmillers.