NEW ZEALAND TIMBER

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 42, 18 August 1925, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND TIMBER

PROSPECTS OF THE

INDUSTRY

ADVANTAGES OVER CANADA

FACILITIES FOR PULPING,

(FROM OB« OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

LONDON, 9th July.

Some 5,000,000 seedlings were distributed by the Canadian Forestry Department last season for afforestation purposes.' In New Zealand a much larger number of pine seedlings 'were planted. As the great timber supplier of the Empire, one would expect, to find Canada taking the lead in afforestation and re-afforestation. But that is not the case. Therein lies an interesting technical aspect of the lumber and pulp industry. If New Zealand, in due course, develops the timber industry in the pumice country of , the North Island, those who undertake the business will be. working in forests laid out according to plan. In Canada the lumbermen are a^l the time competing against Nature. Mr. D. S. „Wylie and Mr. William Fraser, (directors of the New Zealand Perpetual Forests, Limited) saw a great deal during their tour of Canada, and this advantage New Zealand has over other timber countries waß one thing | they learned. In other words, it ig perhaps better in the long run to have "a country' without trees but capable of producing them rapidly than a country already covered with primeval forests. They were particularly struck with the ■ enormous wastage in the Canadian and United States forests.

In America they are cutting' out the timber six times as fast as the regeneration of the forests, and in Canada they are cutting even faster. Many of the trees of the primeval forests are past their period of usefulness. Trees are naturally of different ages. The result is that only a percentage over a certain area is culled for lumber or for pulp. Then, "again, with the enormous quantity of big trees, the smaller trees have no chance. Old and decayed trees axe left, and rubbish from the felled trees remains on the ground, with the result that the danger of fire is increased.

In Now Zealand with regularly planted areas the expense of felling would be considerably less than in Canada. "Whereas only a small percentage of the trees are taken out of the Canadian forests during one season, in the Dominion the clearance would be' a complete one over certain areas. There would be no old and rotten trees left and the debris from the felling could be disposed of under careful supervision. As a matter of fact, in Canada the visitors found that live timber was considered to be the best fire break. Ninety pel" cent, of the damage done through fire had occurred because of fallen timber. PULP INDUSTRY Experts in America consider that the small girth trees are the best for pulp purposes. The wood near the surface, is tougher and more fibrous than that in the centre, and consequently trees of a small diameter have a higher percentage of tough wood. In Eastern Quebec trees of four-inch diameter are cut for pulp. New Zealand trees grow to from Bin to lOin in diameter in ten years, so that the prospects for the pulp industry are good. For the production of newsprint 25 per cent, of chemicallymade pulp is used and 75 per cent, of mechanically-made pulp. For the former sulphur and lime are employed. For 'the latter a good water supply is necessary. Near the pumice lands of the North'lsland there is an ample supply of sulphur and of lime. For water supply there in the Waikato River. For power there will shortly be available that ■ from the Government installation at Arapuni. < Canadian forest lands are extremely rough, and the carriage of timber to the main waterways is done largely by means of "sky-lines" or aerial tramways. The North Island pumice lands are not by any means so rough as the forest lands of Canada, and light tram* ways may be used, but where the slopa is suitable aerial tramways would be more economical. A CONTINENTAL TOUR Mr. Wylie and Mr. Fraser and their companions were the guests of the man. agers of the big American milling company at Capalino, near Vancouver, and of the Pacific Paper and Pulp Company at Ocean Falls, British Columbia. They were received with the greatest, hospitality. A house and servants were placed at their disposal, and everything was done for their instruction and entertainment. If appears that in Canada the name "New Zealand" isthe open sesame to many good things. Mr. Wylio is shortly visiting Scandinavia, Austria, Germany, and Italy for the purpose of investigating the timber industry iii those countries. Mr. Frasor, who remains in London to watch over the interests of the New Zealand Perpetual Forests, Limited, will be visiting' the same countries later. He will accompany Mr. Clark, who is connected with the Gulf Timber Company of America. Mr. Clark was most useful to the party while they Were in the States and Canada, as he had already visited ilO mills for the purpose of asoertaining the latest developments, his own company having in contemplation the erection of new works.