TIMBER FROM SAMOA

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25273, 27 August 1947, Page 6

TIMBER FROM SAMOA

SUPPLIES FOR N.Z. UNLIKELY

SHIPMENT FROM TONGA POSSIBLE

Timber suitable for use by New Zealand furniture manufacturers has been milled in Western Samoa, but efforts made by the New Zealand Furniture Manufacturers’ Federation to obtain supplies which would relieve the present shortage in the Dominion have not been successful. The Commissioner of State Forests (Mr C. F. Skinner) has indicated that there is very little possibility of any Samoan timber being made available to furniture manufacturers, but there are hopes that sup-, plies of similar timber may be obtained from Tonga. The president of the Furniture Manufacturers’ Federation (Mr C. J. Hayward) inquired into the prospects of using Samoan timber when on a holiday visit to the Pacific islands some time ago. He was shown samples of timber made up, and found that certain kinds had a similar grain to mahogany, and were very suitable for furniture manufacture..

When Mr Hayward returned to New Zealand he made further inquiries, and was informed that sawmills were being opened up in Western Samoa. Later reports were received that approximately 100,000 superficial feet of timber had been produced. Further efforts were made to obtain some of this timber without success.