INCREASING TIMBER PRODUCTION

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25551, 20 July 1948, Page 4

INCREASING TIMBER PRODUCTION

GROWING PROPORTION OF EXOTICS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 19. A continuing fall in indigenous timber production to 50,000,000 board feet by 1965 was predicted by the Timber Controller (Mr W. C. Ward), who gave evidence to-day before the Price Tribunal, which is considering an application for higher timber prices. The replacement of indigenous forest! would not be seen by this or succeeding generations, he said. His department was studying regeneration, but only posterity would reap the benefit. Mr Ward said all-over timber production would increase, but. comparing exotic timbers, now in increasing supply, with indigenous timbers, he commented: “They have neither tne durability nor the appearance.” An important part in New Zealand» economy would be played by the timber industry, said Mr Ward. He foresaw the value of production rising from the present figure of £5,000_.00T a year to £11.000,000 in the next 15 to 20 years. Of this, timber valued from £3 000.000 to £4,000,000 would be available for export. The number of workers in the industry could be expected to increase from 8000 to 15X»W, exclusive of processing and distribut- , ing workers.