TIMBER'S FUTURE

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 74, 24 September 1927, Page 10

TIMBER'S FUTURE

BETTER TECHNIQUE

THE USES OF ADVERSITY

ENFORCED SEASONING

The. Government Statistician's figures for 1925-26 indicated the highest timber production in New Zealand since 1908, and might have been taken for evidence of prosperity, but they also showed a falling export, which gave a hint of the over-stocked condition of 1926----27. The figures are analysed in the annual report of the State Forest Service, whose own returns for 1926-27 show a falling off in forest receipts and timber sales, reflect-

ing the changed state of trade.

Following on a record cut and a slump in sales of New Zealand timber —due partly to foreign competition— the New Zealand- yards and mills are carrying heavy stocks. "The decline in demand," says the annual report of the Forest Service, "has to somy extent been of indirect benefit to both the industry and to the consumer. Hitherto a large amount of timber has been sold green off the saw to go immediately, into use. To-day mills are carrying stocks previously unthought-of, and, with ample supplies of seasoned timber to draw upon, users are' accepting sap grades which would otherwise be unacceptable. Recognising this new outlet for their sap grades, operators are endeavouring to establish a permanent trade in seasoned timber."

The question arises: If it requires a slump to teach the timber-industry the selling value of seasoning, will the lesson be remembered when demand and supply are adjusted? The question is of importance in relation to the timber industry's request for the use, in long term loan houses, of timber now classed as inferior, but which timber might be acceptable under a proper system of seasoning and grading.

PXJEGE OF COMPETITION.

According to the above-quoted report, during the year 1926-27 manufacturing technique in the timber industry improved. "With mills working at a lower percentage of their capacity than ever before, this is not unexpected. Nevertheless, there is; a tendency for new operators to invest in a better type of equipment than formerly. The Canadian type of log-carriage, for instance, is coming into wider favour, whilo other labour-saving devices are gradually being installed. Portable rigs, too, for the exploitation of plantation timbers, are rapidly being modernised.

"Operators continue to show an increasing appreciation of proper drying methods, improvements in air-seasoning technique being clearly evident in every section of the country. More and better grade fillets are used than formerly, vertical air-spaces through piles have become common practice, and boxstacks are replacing the old one-end Btacks. I/ow pile foundations (often they are only 6in off the ground) remain the most serious defect in pre-sent-day piling practice. In the drykiln field, little progress has been recorded, but arrangements have now been completed by one of the most progressive South Island timber-merchants for the installation of a modern scientifically controllable kiln. This marks an important step forward in dry-kiln progress in New Zealand.

'' Competition with imported softwoods has also served to stimulate' interest in grading and marketing methods, and there is every indication that the official organisations of the industry will review their policies in these fields of effort within the near future."

While the Government Statistician reports for 1925-26 the record cut (since 1908) of 353,225,000 feet from all mills, the figures from mills cutting State forest timber tell a different tale in 1926-27, as the cut fell from 79,009,000 feet (in the preceding year) to 64,----039,000 feet. The Forest Service's recoipta from timber licenses fell from £130,132 to £103,524; and the receipts ffom sale of timber decreased by £28,----4-10, from £50,565 to £52,125. The total receipts of the Forest Service were £161,469 in 1924-25, £.152,550 in 1925-26, and £.128,566 in 1926-27. a decrease of £23,984, corresponding with the above-stated fall in timber DIMINUTION OF TOTAEA. Considering timber production for the period 1886 to 1926, the Auckland province leads. "Auckland and Botorua regions combined, together with Gisborne (i.e., Auckland province), not only maintained the premier position, but (says the Forest Service) increased their cut over that for the previous reporting period (i.e., the year ended 31st March, 1925). WestlanS, as in the previous year, holds second place, and is assured of this position for some time to come, now that rail connection is available between the east and west coasts of the South Island. The Wellington district again showed an appreciable decrease, as in previous years, indicating the depletion of the easily accessible Main- Trunk line forests. ; "With the exception of kauri, totara, and ihsignis pine, the. production of all species during the year ended 31st March, 1926, was greater than for the preceding period. The decreased production of totara is especially noticeable, the output amounting to only 14 million feet b.m., compared with 181 million feet b.m. cut in the year ended 31st March, 1925, equivalent to a reduction of 24 per cent. The principal increases included 9,000,000 feet b.m. of white pirie and .4,000,000 feet b.m. of matai. Hardwoods still supply less than 3 per cent of the annual cut.'' The most promising hardwood appears to be beech, which is considerably cut in Otago and Southland. '■ Turning again to the Government Statistician's figure for 1925-26, the shadow of coming events is clearly 'shown in the export section. It was the poorest export of timber for 26 years. The decrease was about ten million feet, and the decrease in white pine (kahikatea) alone almost amounted to that figure. White pine "received the severest set-back" in its history. In the Australian market North American and Baltic timbers are competing with white pine and also with rimu. The export value of rimu was 18s per 100 ft 8.M., but to compete with these timbers on a price basis, "the f.o.b. price of rimu in New Zealand would require to be from 14s 6d to 15s 6d per 100 ft 8.M." The abnormal'export of kauri in 1925 was due to "the shipment of^ a quantity of sapgrade timber, which was moving very slowly on the domestic market." As to beech, "a revision of the New Zealand grading system and a detailed study of the export market requirements would assist materially in securing a more balanced -utilisation of the products of the log and in widening the avenues of utilisation for this valuable hardwood." Beech is the only New Zealand timber that increased its export in 1926.. CHANGES IN SOFTWOODS WAR. Canada and the United States sent into New Zealand in 1924 18.644,000 ft B.M. of softwoods; in 1925, 30,180,000; in 1926, 36,648,000; from Ist January to 30th April, 1927, 11,971,000. Of the 1926 total, 16,149,000 ft came from Canada and 22,521,00~0ft from the United States. While the import of softwoods thus increased, total imports decreased from 81,923,784 ft in 1925 to 66,505,092 ft in 1926, and this was due to a de-

■crease in Australian hardwoods of over 21,000,000 ft. Concerning the Canadian, and United States softwoods, the Forest Service reports: "Important changes, compared with previous years, are evident in the trade. Eedwood, as well aa cedar, is now in demand for the first time for weatherboarding,and this spej cies, besides displacing our own excellent building timbers, now seriously; rivals cedar itself. Eedwood was previously introduced mainly for joinery purposes, but a review of the local market by representatives of the redwood producers led to material reductions ia prices of the timber, with a corresponding extension in its trade. Hemlock, which has found considerable favour during the past two years as an interior finish and lining timber, has nowgained in some quarters a reputation, for borer attack, with the result that certain local bodies have placed it on a par in this respect with New Zealand white pine, and have prohibited its usa in building construction.. Many merchants have also cleared their yards of this species, and a decrease in the trade can therefore be expected. Douglas nr still maintains a steady market." Other interesting passages from the report are as follows: "Following the usual business cycle, the boom years of 1919-25 are being succeeded by a depression in the timber trade. Surface indications point to increased importations as the responsible factor. They have, it is true, aggravated the position, but to arrive at a . satisfactory explanation it is necessary to make an analysis of the underlying trend. HOUSE-SHOETAGE OVEECOME. "Since building operations ' absorb" from 50 to 45 per cent, of all softwoods consumed, the building ratio (i.e., the number of persons .per dwelling) is one of the best barometers of business for the timber trades. An examination of Government statistics bearing upon, this question indicates" that, except for a few exceptional localities such aa Wellington, the housing ratio is lower than it has ever been previously'in the history of the country. In other words, the house-shortage has, generally, speaking, been overcome—-a fact which is confirmed by the increasing number, of houses to let, etc. The' keen demand for timber experienced in the early post-war period has, therefore, receded, and a period.of readjustment has been forced upon the industry. Attracted by the prices, good demand, and quick sales of the post-war period, many new operators entered into the business, and the trade of old-estab-lished millers rapidly extended. "Withal, this expansion was naturally accompanied by co-operative marketing and price-fixing agreements. The question of immediate importance is: how can. the industry be-best established! The solution of the problem is already-ap-parent. Price-cutting is in vogue on. the timber markets, and this ultimately will serve to eliminate the more inefficient operators and enable the sudustry to reorient itself to meet the changing demands of the market, especially in competing with imported softwoods.

"It is to be noted that the enormous increase in the number of ferro-concrete buildings that are being erected, especially ,in the larger centres, cannot, as is popularly supposed, be regarded as a detriment to the timber trade as it applies to the use of New Zealand timbers. As a matter of fact, there is more 0.8. and inferior timber used in. tbe construction of a ferro-concrete building than could possibly be used in a wooden building of the same dimensions, because in the latter, under th« existing bylaws, a very large proportion would be heart-wood. It is therefore submitted that the modern practice of concrete building is an advantage to the utilisation of our forests."