RADIATA PINE EXPORTS

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28080, 22 September 1956, Page 10

RADIATA PINE EXPORTS

AUSTRALIAN TRADE RISE SOUGHT N.Z. DELEGATION’S EFFORTS Although all radiata pine used in State houses and in houses built with State Advances Corporation money in New Zealand must be treated, in Australia, where 40,000,000 board feet was used last year, two major authorities are recommending the use of untreated radiata for most purposes. “Both the forest products division of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Organisation and the wood technology division of the New South Wales Forestry Commission are advising builders and loan agencies that it is not necessary to treat radiata pine, except where it is used for subfloors or in contact with the ground,” said Mr A. L. Mason, of the Dominion Sawmillers’ Federation yesterday, on his return from Australia.

Mr Mason was the chairman of a trade delegation from the radiata pine division of the federation which spent three weeks in Australia to promote the use of more New Zealand-grown radiata pine.

Until now, because of a shortage in New Zealand, most of the radiata pine exported to Australia had been for the case trade, said Mr Mason, but the Dominion production was now rising, and up to 100,000.000 board feet could be exported on present output.

“Prospects Excellent” Mr Mason said he felt that the prospects for a steady and sustained increase in the volume of radiata pine exports to Australia were excellent provided the New Zealand industry maintained the highest standards of production and merchandising, and kept watch on any changes in relative price values. New Zealand radiata pine at present landed at substantially lower prices than Oregon pine, but it was dearer in most States than the locallyproduced hard woods, he said. “In New South Wales the landed price of our construction grade is roughly equivalent to the local hardwood scantling.” Australia was planting quite a lot of radiata, and other softwoods, but the yields in the next 20 years were expected to be insignificant in relation to total requirements. Wooden houses were rare in the Sydney area 20 years ago, even though most brick veneer houses had timber framing, but today the cost of bricks, and the wish of home-owners for fewer load-bearing internal partitions, put the brick-built houses in the minority, said Mr Mason. “Few builders are using radiata pine, but there appears to be a general readiness to give it a trial.” he said. The Commonwealth Bank, through which a considerable volume of funds pass to the States, was the first to accept radiata pine, and the New South Wales Housing Commission was proceeding with the building of a trial group of houses as an experiment, he said. Towards this end the radiata pine division of the federation will soon appoint its own representative, and some qf the larger exporters are also proposing to make their own appointments, Mr Mason said.