TIMBER OR DAIRY COWS?

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 256, 24 July 1924, Page 4

TIMBER OR DAIRY COWS?

PROHIBITION OF EXPORT OF WHITE PINE URGED

ONLY FIFTEEN YEARS’ SUPPLY LEFT CONSIDERATION PROMISED In view of the present rate of export of white pine, dairy farmers of the North Island arc not optimistic regarding future local supplies of the timber which has no equal for butter boxes and choose .crates. A deputation from the National Dairy Association waited upon Sir Francis Bell (Acting-Commissioner of State Forests) yesterday, to ask for prohibition of export. Mr. A Morton (chairman of the association) said that tho deputation represented the dairy interests of the North Island, who desired to .know if the Government could not, at an early date, take steps to prohibit the exportation of tho white pine. Importations from other countries had been arriving in New Zealand, but that did not tend to alleviate the position, and he understood the report of the departmental officers was opposed to the Baltic pine being used for packing purposes. They had been assured that at tho rate they were going, there was onlv sufficient white pine in the country to last about fifteen years more, but whereas the country was perhaps not using so much as was being exported at present, the industry was going to increase steadily, and he doubted if the supplies, under those circumstances, would last fifteen years. Producers recognised that they had. to face keener competition, and it was necessary that they should have an assured supply of timber. There was no other timber so admirably suitel to tho purposes of the dairy industry, and in fact, there was no fault at all to bo found with it. He did not think that there was any scheme providing for the preservation of white pine. Mr. J. B. Murdoch (chairman of the Egmont box factory, and member of the executive of tho National Dairy I Association), said that Swedish pine I was unsatisfactory in a sense, but its ! importation into New Zealand would | only make the exportation of white nine greater. One of tho biggest- c,iffuidties was 'n regard to the. cheese mates the “wide-ends” requiting scild tinder. There was no doubt that something would have to be done >n the near future. In reply, Sir Francis Bell said Lo did not think anyone would suspect him of desiring to facilitate the export of timber from New Zealand. When ho assumed control ho had immediately limited the export and gradually provided for its reduction, and anything to assure that tho timber of Now Zealand would bo utilised bv the people of New Zealand and not for tho benefit of people outside. When proceeding to limit the export ; however, thev found themselves in difficulties. in as much as big areas of white pine were being destroyed to make way for settlement; in fact, in the north they were actually burning tlie timber because it could not be exported and was not being absorbed in tho country. It was then that the limitations had to be removed Ho did not see how that difficulty was going to be avoided. He would have the matter carefully looked into to see if areas could bo defined on which cutting could be restrained. He would suggest that the dairying industry cooperate to acquire white pine areas. Ho had been told that 34,000,000 feet had been exported last year, as against 53.000.000 feet in 1914, but last year 70.000.000 feet were cut. Tho sawmillers had requested to' be heard, and of course he intended to hear them, but he did not think they expected him to bo very sympathetic. His sympathy was not with tho sawmiller. He was not at all sure that the industry would not bo greatly assisted 'bv the Australian sawmillers’ objection to tho importation of New Zealand timber into Australia. He was very much impressed with the desire —and he considered it a necessity—to keep white pine for New Zealand use in any way possible, but human nature was human nature, and if anyoiie had land such as that described he would not keep the timber, but would have it cut doym because he wanted to keep dairy cows. Tile timber would have’ to bo burned or milled because it did not keep for any great time. Ho would do his 'best to have the matter reconsidered, and if possible would have some means devised to got over the position. Tn renlv to a ouestiou. Sir Francis 801 l said it was not the sawmillers that the dairy industry was up against, but the question of settlement, which was a serious matter.