TIMBER INFESTED WITH TERMITES

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25089, 22 January 1947, Page 9

TIMBER INFESTED WITH TERMITES

PLANS TO DEAL WITH IMPORTATIONS REVIEW BY MR NASH Concern at a reference by the Mayor of Auckland (Mr J. A. C. Allum) to “the apparent lack of action on the part of the Minister of Finance and the Government departments” over the importation of termiteinfested timber was expressed in a letter received by Mr Allum from Mr W. Nash. Mr Allum’s reference was made in a letter to the Prime Minister (Mr P. Fraser) on December 2 last, when he dealt with the arrival of the ship Kairanga with termite-infested timber from Australia. Mr Nash said his attention had just been drawn to the letter. “I would like to take this opportunity of telling you that I am, and have always been, fully aware of the seriousness of landing termite-infested timber in this country,” said Mr Nash. “I know full well the long-term effects likely to accrue, and it has been my desire to see that efficient action is taken to ensure that such infested timber will be treated on arrival in New Zealand.”

The Minister said he thought Mr Allum would be the first to appreciate that it was not always easy to apply corrective measures shipments of timber .»r any other commodity left the port of entry. An attempt had been made to arrange with the Australian authorities for the inspection, rejection, or treatment, if necessary, of timber before shipment to New Zealand, but that had obviously not proved effective. All possible steps w’ould have to be taken at this end to see that infested timber was dealt with. Forestry Department Advised After mentioning various steps that had been taken to overcome the trouble, Mr Nash said he was concerned that a report by the Auckland City Engineer (Mr A J. Dickson) said that a further shipjnent of infested poles arrived at the end of November. He was also concerned that poles and sleepers had been distributed to areas outside the council’s control, apparently without effective treatment. He had taken the matter uo with the Forestry Department, and all possible action would be taken to see that effective treatment was given. Tlie Minister said he hoped to be able to reply more fully in the near future. Replying to Mr Nqsh’s letter, the Mayor said it could be understood that the council was very perturbed over the continued importation of infested timber. Mr Allum referred to the discovery as long ago as January 26, 1945, of a termite-infested pole to show that the matter was not of recent origin. The Department of Scientific'and Industrial Research' was commpnicated with on that occasion and the information was sent to the manager of the State Advances Corporation, Wellington. The council had always desired to co-operate.

While it might not always be easy to apply corrective measures before shipments left the port of entry, it could not be regarded as satisfactory that such a state of affairs should obtain, said Mi’ Allum. He honed it would be within the bounds of practicability to evolve some method to improve the situation.