Study Of Forest Products On Coast

Press, Volume C, Issue 29633, 2 October 1961, Page 7

Study Of Forest Products On Coast

(New Zealand Press Association)

NELSON. October 1. A forest products plan for the West Coast, on the first stage of which. £1,500,000 could be spent, is now under investigtion by a Government Advisory Committee. The plan is sponsored by Fletcher Holdings, Ltd. The plan is for a largescale and fully integrated forest products industry, using a selective logging plan —with conservation going hand-in-hand with utilisation. A director of Fletcher Holdings, Ltd. (Mr J. S. Fletcher), giving details of the proposals, said that Fletchers had commissioned a survey of West Coast forest potential from the Arthur D. Little survey group, of the United States. Mr Fletcher said the plan for the West Coast would utilise both the podocarps and the beech timbers. The method would be by selective logging so that conservation would go fully in hand with utilisation.

Such a programme as was envisaged would be feasible only on a large scale. The key to it was the assurance of a sufficient supply of timber over the years. That would entail increasing the present cut, the granting of long-term rights of

access to the forest and the closing down of existing mills and the incorporation of them in the integrated major project on a mutually satisfactory basis.

What his company had in mind was something very much more comprehensive and far-reaching, which would use the wood product to the best advantage while preserving the forest stand. First Stage

The first stage might take £1,500,000 in capital, with perhaps plywood manufacture and the drying, treating and planing of the sawn timber. After that hardboard, softboard, particle board and pulp and ancillary products might be manufactured.

Considerable expenditure on reading would be necessary. One idea was for the Forest Service to put these roads in, the debt to be amortised by a royalty on timber. Mr Fleteher said he foresaw great possibilities in trying-in the use of the extensive exotic softwoods of Nelson.

"We have spent a lot of money in getting the Arthur D. Little report and in other ways," Mr Fletcher went on.

"We are prepared to spend more if we get the right kind of chance. But decision on our West Coast project now rests with the Government,” he said.