N.S.W. Worried By N.Z. Timber

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31787, 18 September 1968, Page 28

N.S.W. Worried By N.Z. Timber

(N.Z.P.A. Staff Correspondent) SYDNEY, September 17. Hints of State pressure on the Federal Government to limit soaring imports of New Zealand timber and other forest product?, have been made by a New South Wales Government i Minister.

Mr J. G. Beale, Minister for Conservation, told a timber industryconference at Lismore, northern New South Wales, yesterday that the imports posed “a real challenge” to the ssoom Australian forest products industry.

"Our own industry must not be stunted by imports,” he said. In an obvious reference to New Zealand, he said: "Economic help to neighbouring countries must not be at the expense of our native timber industry.” Mr Beale said the New South Wales Government was determined to do everything in its power to ensure that the local industry remained viable. Tariff Reduction

“The native sawmilling industry has already felt the impact of tariff reduction on imports from New Zealand decided by the Federal Government without prior consultation or agreement with the States. “The Federal Government has pointed out the special position of Papua-New Guinea and also of New Zealand, our Pacific free-trade partner.

“We in New South Wales do not overlook this, but to put it bluntly our own industry must not be stunted by imports.” Mr Beale said Australia already imported about s2oom worth of forest products each year, and present trends indicated that this would treble by the end of the century. New Zealand timber sales to Australia have risen dramatically this year, follow-

ing devaluation and the abolition of Australian import duties. In the first four months of the year sawn timber sales jumped to more than 13.8 m board feet, against 8.2 m board feet in the same period last year.

Sales of one type of timber alone—New Zealand Oregon or Douglas fir—to Australia, rose from I.lm board feet in the first half of 1967 to 7.3 m board feet in the first six months of this year.