PRESERVATIVES FOR TIMBER

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27065, 13 June 1953, Page 6

PRESERVATIVES FOR TIMBER

STATE AUTHORITY TO BE CREATED SUPERVISORY DUTIES PROPOSED (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 12. A timber preservation authority to deal with problems arising out of the increasjng use in building of timbers needing preservative treatment, is to be set up by th© Government. Professional, commercial, and Government bodies concerned with timber will have representation on the authority. Announcing this decision tonight, the Minister of Industfies and Commerce (Mr J. T. Watts) said: “The object is to encourage the proper use of our exotic and indigenous timbers, and to give the public confidence in their use.” The authority would control and coordinate timber preservation activities and research, approve standard types of treatment of timber, and supervise timber preservation, Mr Watts said. It would generally work through Government departments* and would use the research facilities of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. Inspections would be carried out by the Forest Service. v Mr Watts said the authority would provide the administrative machinery for decisions about the effectiveness of various timber treatments. The inspection system would give protection to users of timber against badly treated material. Field tests were also planned.