NATIVE TIMBERS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 119, 23 May 1925, Page 13

NATIVE TIMBERS

FORESTERS AND BUILDERS

SAWMILLERS AND THE PUBLIC

DEPBEDATIONS BY INSECT PESTS.

It will come as a shock to most people In the Dominion to learn that within 60 years 75 per cent, of the country's virgin forest has disappeared. That Is why the Government appointed a Forestry Department. The statement appears in the report and recommendations of the Building Conference held in Wellington, and just published. Arising out of the conference, co-operation of all groups Interested in the building industry and many important results have been achieved, . One result will be the admission o! a number ol hardwoods to building regulations, thus assisting to balancs consumption of soft woods and hardwoods now used by the building industry. 0.8, or Bap timbers ■wili be more widely used, sizes of timbers ■will be reduced, and fire wastage will be lessened by improved methods of construction.

The report contains valuable technical data, In which it is stated that wooden frame construction can no longer be regarded as ideal for buildings of greater siza than small buildings used,as shops a.nd as.dwellings for not more than two families in eaoh unit, for residential or other occupancy. Data of the strength and loading of members in. buildings aro given, together with particulars of foundations and external, parting, and division walls.

DESTRUCTION BY PESTS. Notes by tho Forest Service on the uses of "timber in building construction are furnished in' the report. In referring to the need for preservation of timber, ii is affirmed that "the economic loss attachable to the decay and destruction of.timber by. fungoid and insect attauk in buildings already constructed nmounts to at least £1,000,000 per annum... Any process which will materially lengthen the life of a structure is therefore of vital importance to every member of the community. Since the inception of tho Forest Service in 1920 a survey has been carried'oh of the forest and timber inßects and fungi, and of their destructive works throughout the Dominion. This study shows thai to combat the alarming increase in the depredations of these pests concerted action by sawmiller, timbsr-merchant, builder, building-owner, and local and Government authority is required."

A WOOD-DECAY PROBLEM. Expensive replacements of many structures, it is stated, must be faoed within the near future, due primarily to the use of timber infected with borer and fungoid pests whilst in storage and before use in the buildings. Attention-must bo drawn to'the fact that timber may 1 thus become infected, without the attack being detected by a superficial, examination of , the wood. Where any doubt arises regarding- the infection of important structural members, miscroscopic examinations will often, avoid the expense of early replacements a;id the,danger of failures. :,-. "Such-a course, is not practicable in the case of ordinary building-timbers, and the only remedy is to obtain the cooy>er«tion._of sawmiller and timber inercluiiifc, builder, and other user in manu-fru-u,.-iai: timber under Eanitary conditions. This is fundamental to the solution of the wood-decay problem- in New 7e :];uid. Bolting debris, decayed foundation timbers, and infected fillets, buildings, etc., of the sawmills and timber yards, form some of the chief breeding grounds' of all classes of wood-destroyinj: pests." ■ • . . -«• |

Local authorities are urged to supervise destruction of decayed buildings and disposal of their material. "To allow the use of timber already attacked by insects and fungi is nothing short of criminal negligence." WHAT THE PUBLIC MUST DESTROY. ■ "Finally," tne report continues, "the co-operation, of tha public- must be sought.' Every member of the community should realise that a few com-mon-sense precautions will ligmen the burden upon the publio pocket and materially improve the- life of their homes, vyitn/tne rate of depreciation considerably reduced the financing of building becomes a much simpler problem than at present.

The chief breeding-grounds of wooddestroying agencies in • tha neighbourhood of houses and other buildings -are piles of rotting wood debris, borer and tungi-mfected packing cases, fuel wood, etc., and close-boarded fences. In these img the activities within a short time to the houses and their contents. Destructive timber, pests exist in every conceivable, form of wood product, furniture, I 6i-naments - handles, shafts, spokes I bones and.casks form but a few of the nulUtudmous objects .which are.respon! o,t fl n 6P"^IDS dest™c«on throughout the Dominion. ' •• ' * ,1, ''*1 O1:(%" ["sects are continually inlro-! Ihe utmost care is therefore required in he selection of sound wood for buildings otr !nt S- ra + l tlOnv° £- dec^"S firewofd etc., and m the elimination of wood-dc etrucfaTß agencies in heirlooms, ftmStare aHicf; s .?' rnamentS ' Snd in °ther *°°« SAWMILLER AND CONSUMER. ;naV\h ema-rked at, althoußh sawmill, ng is the pioneer industry of New Zealand, the isolation of-the Dominion the small competition by foreign tmber producing regions have prevented it from developing along the scientific lines which now characterise! tha different agricultural industries. Sawmillers, it is true have not been slow to recognise the advantages of using' modern machinery but generally speaking, there has been 1 Ule attempt to give better service to the consumer. With the large number of substitutes for. wood now appearing on tne market it becomes increasingly neccsMry. to; study the wants of tho user. J- hero is considerable dissatisfaction with v.-ood throughout the country, largely as «■, result of wide variation in fra^ sizes, nomenclature, and other practices >n the marketing of timber. Some movement for the standardisation and revision 1 & aIS "e, eded if manipulation of both grades and species j a to ceaae. As they now ox.st, grading ru , M arfl y, J| clastic that a consumer cau seldom be sure of the quality of any specified K rade until it is delivered. These facts cvi not.be refuted. They represent tlie et penence or most wood-consumers in theLomimon. A stadardised specification lor each class of yard timber i 5 required Preservation is fuUy dealt with, and methods and materials for effecting this are suggested. .. Seasoning is also dealt •with. •

The report includes valuable Bueges tiara for construction to' meet possible tests oy earthquake.. Steel-framed buildings, it ss said, with reinforced concrete iralia are itoted to ha\'s offered excelUna reaatanot to shock*,