More Timber Research Adopted

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32119, 15 October 1969, Page 30

More Timber Research Adopted

(From Our Own* Reporter) " ROTORUA, October 14. The establishment of a strengthened organisation to advance research into timber products and to publicise timber usage in New Zealand and overseas was envisaged today in motions passed unanimously at the fifty-fourth annual conference of the Timber Merchants’ Federation.

Merchants accepted an 11-point motion which would mean that in the next eight months their firms would contribute about $BO,OOO toward this special fund, which would be administered by the council of the timber industry.

The motion was Introduced during discussion on the levy needed to support the Timber Development Association. It was suggested that this body, formed for the purpose of improving the acceptance of timber by increasing public knowledge, was handicapped by shortage of funds. Mr G. R. Rear (Manawatu) suggested that the present levy, which is computed on

the throughput of firms, should be increased fivefold. There was also a motion that up to $13,000 be contributed.

The president of the Timber Development Association (Mr J. Lawry) who is also secretary of Fletcher Merchants, then presented his 11-polnt plan. , Main Features < Its main features are: that j a New Zealand timber deve- , lopment and research fund be ' established, that it be administered by a reconstituted Tim- 1 ber Development Association i under the guidance of the , council of the timber Indus- ■ try, and that merchants assist' the financing of it. The first levy of 1c per 100 board feet of throughput 1 would be payable on February 1, and a; similar ietiy would fall due on May 1, 1970. ; ■ ’ -' -'. The motion declared its in-' tention of notifying the coun-' cil of the timber industry wjth a view to its incorporating all funds available under one' promotion and research organisation. ; Subsidy Sought. , , It asked that the Government be approached for ? a

dollar-for-dollar subsidy. It is hoped that the sawmiller’s federation, will make a similar contribution which, with the Government's assistance, could' make an, initial $160,000 available. This proposition will be dis-

cussed by the executive of the sawmillers’ federation at the full meeting of constituent bodies of the council of the timber industry both of which meet in Rotorua tomorrow.