THE SAWMILLING INDUSTRY.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20918, 27 July 1933, Page 11

THE SAWMILLING INDUSTRY.

AN OPTIMISTIC NOTE. MILLERS' ANNUAL CONFERENCE. [THE PRESS Special Service.] WELLINGTON, July 26. An optimistic note regarding the future of the sawmilling industry was struck by the Commissioner of State forests, the Kon. E. A. Ransom, today, when opening the annual conference of the New Zealand Federated Sawmiiiers' Association. Mr Ransom said that sawmillers might look forward with some confidence to an early return to better conditions. At the same time he announced that until there was a definite change for the better he proposed to continue the concessions to sawmillers operating in State forests. "It is estimated," said Mr Ransom, "that the timber produced in the Dominion for tha year ended March 31 last amounted to approximately 154,000,000 feet, or about the same quantity as for the previous year. This indicates that the sawmililng industry is at least holding its own. and with the increased demand for timber which must arise as old stocks are being exhausted and building becomes more general, I think that sawmillers may look forward with some confidence to an early return to better conditions. Of the 527 established sawmills, 465 are working exclusively in native forests .and 62 exclusively in exotic plantations. It is prpobably well known to you all that at least 30 per cent of these mills are temporarily closed down while 43 per cent. are.working only part time. Although the figures are not impressive, they yet' show a distinct improvement on the figures for the corresponding period last year, and lend further support to my previous remark that the industry has not declined in the last 12 months." White Pine. The overseas demand for white pine he continued,; was fairly keen, although he understood at present that there was a slight falling off in orders, and supplies easy of access were becoming increasingly scarce. In response to numerous enquiries regarding the exploitation of "store" timber in South Westland, he had instructed that a block be appraised and offered for disposal by public tender as soon as conveniently- possible. White pine cut from that bush would be for local consumption and not for export. Southern millers would realise that the reason why the timber had not been milled long ago was the great difficulty of access and extraction. Earlier attempts to establish a working harbour at Okarito had been abortive, and it remained to be seen whether practical access to the locality from the sea would be made financially successful. Concessions. Until such time as a definite change for the better occurred in the milling induitoy, he proposed to continue the coneWßons to sawmillers operating in Statir ft crests which had been in force overate last two years. These were eumnirised as follows: — fa) The offering of no timber for sals 'ijuhless applied for and the disposal of no timber which will create a new milling unit. (b) The waiving of interest on overdue promissory notes postponed by arrangement. (c) The abolition of ground rent on sawmill areas. (d) A rebate of 10 per cent, for payment in cash. (e) A reduction of 10 per cent, on the royalty on silver beech exported to Qreat Britain for motor-body building. > Southland Beech. "It is pleasing to record the success which attended the visit of representatives from your federation and the department respectively who went to England last year to seek out a markCT for Southland beech," said Mr Random, "and I congratulate you on the mults obtained. I am sure you %ill all agree that the orders already placed augur well for further trade with: the Mother Country. The number ;6f dry kilns now in operation throughout the Dominion is Indicative of t|te increasing Interest taken by certainStnillers to ensure that their timber will be placed on the market as weU sfiasoned as possible. In my judgment! this is a very wise move and a very necessary one if our timber is to hol&lts own against foreign competition«/it is well known that kiln drying is ejjtwisively practised in Europe and Antffrica as evidenced by the excellent'condition of the timber produced from those continents." f / DOMINION INVESTMENT M ASSOCIATION. ¥ V jJIVIDEND DISTRIBUTION. lePBE PBESS Special Serrlce.] gs' f; u ' AUCKLAND, July 26. 4k|t profit of £8974, against £10,971 fa previous year, is shown in the wvityw annual accounts of the DotoilTOß Investment and Banking Aswefifon (Auckland) for tne year ewpi June 30. With £IO2B brought "rtflßute accounts, there is tvwpuble. The directors recommend JMphis should be dealt with as folTojpayment of dividend of 41 Bjr-cent. on "A" shares and «Ul" and second issues of 1 ,'and "C" shares ~oiat«iarve fund (increasing it „to I«00) 500 *o contingency reserve (increastag it to £3000) • • 1000 Aro to carry forward • • The dividend is a reduction of % per on the previous year's rate. tThe paid-up capital of the comJg?y comprises £151,000 in A wea, £7471 in "B" shares, and *12,892 in "C" shares. For several pars preceding 1932 the dividend was cent.] bank of new south WALES. ; Quarterly dividend. t.f l ' iIAISS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM'.) WELLINGTON, July 20. lap* Bank of New South Wales has wttwl an interim dividend for the Jjjrter ended June 30 of 5s a share, jjPWltan currency, payable at the gj® Office on August 30 and at WCbes on receipt of advice, me ividend is the same as in the ||frapondlng quarter last year. J