N.Z. PRODUCTION OF TIMBER

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27443, 1 September 1954, Page 12

N.Z. PRODUCTION OF TIMBER

‘SHORTAGE OVERCOME’

FOREST SERVICE REPORT TO HOUSE

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, August 31. The New Zealand Forest Service claims that the timber shortage has now been overcome, and that this is shown in three ways—timber exports increased during the last year by 21,000,000 board feet, housebuilding has increased considerably, and there is more timber now at mill, merchants’, and users’ yards than there has been for a long time. Figures given in the annual report of the service tabled in the House of- Representatives today show that the output of sawn timber for the year ended March 31 last was 575,114,000 board feet, compared with 575,220,000 for 1951-52.

The production of rough-sawn timber was, in total, almost unchanged from the previous year; said the report, but the composition of the year’s cut was very significantly changed, and the timber shortage overcome. For the first time since 1947 there was a significant decline in the production of indigenous timber, and in the interest of the future timber position this must be welcomed as a hopeful sign that conservation was beginning to take effect.

“As would be expected, most of the reduction was in rimu, followed closely by white pine,” the report said. “Production of all species was slightly less than last year’s, but the difference wis well under 1,000,000 -board feet. At the same time there was a corresponding increase in the output of exotic timber —proof, surely that indigenous supplies could be reduced without lessening the amount of timber available to the public.” Timber supply in most districts continued to be good, and people seemed to be getting all the timber they needed, added .the report. Indigenous softwoods Were becoming harder to obtain as forest conservation took effect. In most places the prejudice against exotic timbers was lessening. On the other hand, the threat of an over-supply had made both sawmiller and merchant improve the grading of exotic timber and give better service. Trade Wtih Australia The report said that national policy aimed at a surplus of at least 50,000,000 cubic feet of round forest material for export in some form of manufactured goods, over and above local requirements for sawn produce, or pulp and paper products. Over any long period this quantity of raw material, converted, should have an export value of between £10,000,000 and £12,000,000. Most of it would go to Australia, where it would meet only a small part of that country’s needs. “Thus the exotic forests give New Zealand the opportunity of making good the adverse trade balance with Australia, to which New Zealand exported last year only £4,700,000 worth of goods, but imported £26,000,000 worth of goods,” said the report. The report also referred to the exotic forests’ contribution to the national economy by savings in external balance of payments. It said that if New ' Zealand had to import from overseas the 246,000,000 board feet of softwoods 1 which it now obtained from the exotic forests, the drain upon present over- : seas funds would be £12,500,000 a year • if supplies could be bought freely from > dollar sources, but it would be • £14,250,000 if they were obtained elsewhere.