Native Timber Resources Better Than 1923 Estimate

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28481, 10 January 1958, Page 12

Native Timber Resources Better Than 1923 Estimate

(New saaiena Press Association,

DUNEDIN, January 9.

A report recently released on a survey of the Dominion’s native timber resources completed in 1955 indicated that there was more timber in the country's forests than was previously thought, said the president of the Otago Timber Merchants’ Association (Mr A. L. Hogg) today.

“Over the last few years everybody thought that native timber would be cut out very soon,” he said. “The latest indications are that it will have a longer life than we thought.” The previous survey was completed in 1923, the report said, but interim experience showed that national forest reconnaissance of the early twenties could not be relied on for accurate estimates of how much merchantable softwood timber, was left. It was based on ground work that was incomplete and assessment based more on eye estimate and much guesswork, rather than on what were now known to be

reliable techniques. The use of aerial transport had given New Zealand the distinction of being the first Commonwealth to complete a national survey with modern techniques. Mr Hogg said that the greater reserves of native timber now disclosed meant that the home builder could for some time loos forward to reasonable supplies of red pine. On the other hand, millers of radiate pine had to face the fact that their product was not going to come on hr, bare market, as was at ono hme expected. “Everybody thought Uthy timbers would be cut out Ma g few years," he said. "Thls uteat estimate will upset the -rsdhta pine people, who have been'gxpanding their mills and aaoring them for higher production ja JU the vacuum. “This, coupled with the present recession, will be felt Mtoly widely, particularly in ths North Island,” said Mr Hogg. ■ The previous survey, he 'gUd, showed the native timber SMtetion to be fairly serious, result all sawmills were P«On restricted cuts. No new. pwy had been announced, thoujASit was logical that the resMitH cuts should be eased, he sal4.“