Tests on radiata

Press, 18 April 1981, Page 6

Tests on radiata

NZPA Staff Correspondent Robert HorrocksTokyo

An agreement for New Zealand and Japanese scientists to test radiata timber jointly has been reached by the Prime Minnister, Mr Muldoon, and Japan’s Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Mr Takao Kameoka. Mr Muldoon described the agreement as a significant move. He said that in the past Japanese and New Zealand scientists, acting independently, had come up with

different : results, which meant the Japanese had not permitted radiata to be used for building purposes.

“We have .invited the Japanese to send their scientists to New Zealand and we will lock them up in a room with some New - Zealand scientists and tell them to Carry out tests until they come up with the same result,” he said. “Surely it will be impossible : for them to disagree.

“I don’t think we can lose. We know radiata is a strong timber.”'

-Mr Muldoon said that the timing for completion of the exercise was not important because New Zealand was looking ahead to the end of the decade when new supplies of timber • would become available.

Japanese acceptance of New Zealand radiata as a building timber would open up a new market at a higher price and lower tariff than at present. Radiata was now sold in Japan for packaging purposes.