WOODEN MATCHES

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 July 1923, Page 5

WOODEN MATCHES

WEST COAST TIMBERS With a view to ascertaining the possibility of making wooden matches from West Coast timbers, enquiries have been made by Mr. 11. R. Young, of Westport, who has re-, ceived the following reply from the Secretary of the Department of Industries and Commerce: — “When I was in Westport recently you asked me to enquire as to the suitability of yellow pine for the manufacture of match boxes and match splints. In reply, I have to inform you that I have consulted the Engineer of the State Forest Service in the matter, and he advises as follows: — “ ‘The timbers recently tested under this project include white pine, red beech (Nothofagus fusca), black beech (Nothofagus solandri) and Kamahi. I have to advise you that the white pine proved suitable for the manufacture of both match boxes and match splints. The other timbers were on the whole not satisfactory, although the black beech may possibly be used for match boxes. With reference to the possibility of using silver pine in this industry, I would point out that the minimum size logs must measure 13 inches in diameter at the small end, larger logs beingpreferred. The tests on other timbers are now being carried out, and I will endeavour to procure samples of silver pine for future work.’”