Future Of Forestry On West Coast Discussed

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30287, 13 November 1963, Page 18

Future Of Forestry On West Coast Discussed

(From Our Own Reporter)

WESTPORT, November 12. ‘‘As an indication of the progress made in encouraging forest industry to the West Coast, I have a list of seven different organisations which are prepared to cooperate with the Government in establishing timber-pro-cessing plants on the Coast in exchange for long-term sales,’’ said the Minister of Lands, Forestry and Marine (Mr Gerard) in an address to 25 persons at Westport this evening. Mr Gerard spoke for an hour and a half. There was only one interjection. He said four of the industries would commence operations within 12 months, and if all the proposals, with the exception of one firm which would operate in the Nelson conservancy, were accepted, timber processing on the Coast would become a major industry based on 40 per cent of Westland's current timber production, which would then be committed in long term sales. The Fletcher Company proposals which would be

the largest, provided for drying, dressing, gauging, priming and matching as well as finger-join ting, and the establishment of a plywood mill with an annual capacity of 12 million sq. ft. Both plants might ultimately employ over 100 men. Mr Gerard referred to the Henderson Pollard - Duncan Hardy combine which it was expected would eventually employ 68 men. Sale proposals were expected to be completed within six months. The Henderson Pollard combine, which was interested in a long-term sale to be advertised this month, intended to close its existing mills and erect a new one at a capital outlay of £150.000. Other proposals were still on the confidential list. The tendency would in future be to process the timber on the West Coast, said the Minister, and not in places such as Canterbury, as had been the case formerly.

In reply to an interjector he said that the position was not so good as regards Buller, but he believed that in a reasonable time processing for pulp of Buller beech would be practicable. Referring to farming on the Coast the Minister said he believed great opportunities existed there. The Marginal Lands Board established by the National Government was doing much to increase production on the Coast and more than 50 farmers in the Westland land district had been helped through the work of the board. Mr Gerard said the experimental work on the model of Westport harbour at Gracefield laboratories was almost concluded. He considered a vast improvement would take place in the harbour when the work was carried out