TIMBER EXPORTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 May 1930, Page 2

TIMBER EXPORTS

PORT V. OTIRA TUNNEL

INTERESTING COMPARISONS.

Figures prepared by the Forestry Department for the Greymouth Harbour Board provide the basis for an interesting comparison of the amount of Westland timber exported by way of the Greymouth wharf and the Otira tunnel respectively. During the past six years, the port has had a slight advantage, the returns showing that, between the years ended March, 1925, and March, 1930, the average percentage of the total timber output railed through the tunnel amounted to 4G.83. The total production during the period mentioned was 417,754,900 superficial feet, and of this 195,636,700 superficial feet went by rail. The detailed figures are as follow: — Per-

It is interesting to note that the timber production for the year ended March 31 last, 76,411,500 superficial feet, constituted a record for the past six years.

TOTAL TUNNEL EXPORTS.

An additional return discloses the fact that, since the opening of the tunnel in August, 1923, no fewer than 213,319,300 superficial feet have been railed through from Westland. The record for a quarterly period was 9,965,000 superficial feet, during the three months ended September, 1925, but this was closely approached during the quarter ended June, 1929, when the total was 9,711,000 superficial feet. The detailed quarterly figures are as follow: —

TUNNEL TRAFFIC.

RETURNS FOR THREE YEARS.

Interesting reference to the goods traffic figures in connection with the Otira Tunnel, and the difficulty experienced in securing them from the Railways Department, was made at last evening’s meeting of the Greymouth Harbour Board.

The Chief Accountant, Railways Department, forwarded a return of the tonnage railed through the Otira Tunnel‘for three years to March 31, 1930. The yearly periods are from April 1 to March 31. The return is as follows: —•

The tonnage under the heading of goods, includes coal and general merchandise.

Mr. J. W. Greenslade said that the Chairman (Mr. P. J. McLean) was to be congratulated on securing the return. The Chamber of Commerce had been wanting it for ' a long time, to give some idea of how the farming industry was progressing on the West Coast. Unfortunately the detailed figures showing the export of butter and cheese were not given. The Chairman said he had experienced a good deal of trouble in getting the return, and had been trying to do so for months. Mr. W. Clayton agreed that the figures relating to butter and cheese were very desirable.

The chairman said the only way he could see was to approach the various factories on the West Coast. They could get the exports from the Railways Department, but not the local consumption, which was considerable. He knew the figures could be secured, as ho saw a graph when in London, setting out figures relating to butter and cheese in connection with each individual factory on the West Coast “ff we can get the. figures in London ” he added, "surely to goodness we can get them in Greymouth.”

Mr. Greenslade said he would like to see the figures analysed. When they recalled the fact that a few years ago the little vessel Moa used to bring all tho sheep required on the West Coast from Canterbury, they realised what strides the farming industry had made on the West Coast. If the returns of butter and cheese could be secured, they would prove illuminating to outside centres. Mr. J. Tennent questioned whether

the tonnage given in the return included the weight of the waggons. The Chairman said he put that question to one railways official, and was told that “he thought so.” That was no good; they might as well include the aveight of vessels leaving port with cargo. The Railways Department seemed reluctant to give information, but he told them it was wanted for statistical purposes, and if they would not give it to him he would get it on the floor of the House, as the district was entitled to it. The secretary (Mr. AV. B. Gilbert) said he had been told that the weekly returns of tunnel traffic published included the weight of the waggons. Mr. Greenslade moved that the Chairman be thanked for securing the figures. They were certainly illuminating, and had been looked for for a considerable time. He hoped that they could bo secured regularly in future, so tha£ an ideh could be gained of the progress of various industries on the West Coast.

The resolution was seconded by Mr Tennent, and agreed to.

An enquiry made to-day elicited the reply from the Railways Department that the weekly traffic returns comprised the gross weight, the weight of the waggons being included.

Year ended March, 1925 March, 1926 March, 1927 March, 1928 March, 1929 March, 1930 Total Production 73,137,900 73,452,000 06,853,300 57,449,800 70,450.400 76.411.500 Through centage Tunnel of output 35,033,900 47.9 34,346,000 46.76 31,181,700 46.61 29,033,100 20.23 32,092,800 45.55 33,949,200 44.43 Totals 417,751,900 195,636,700 46.83

Quarter ended Sup. ft. September 1923 .. ... 2,406,600 December 1923 . ... 7,149,200 March 1924 . ... 8,126,800 June 1924 .. ... 9,015,400 September 1924 . ... 9,137,900 December 1924 . ... 8,497,200 March 1925 .. ... 8,383,400 June 1925 . ... 8,734,800 September 1925 . ... 9,965,300 December 1925 .. .. . 7,096,600 March 1926 . ... 8,549,300 June 1926 . .. . 8,954,700 September 1926 . ... 7,836,400 December’ 1926 . ... 7,901,000 March 1927 . . . . 6,489,600 June 1927 . ... 7,108,700 September 1927 . ... 7,642,800 December 1927 . ... 8,006,200 4 March 1928 . ... 6,275,400 June 1928 . ... 6,920,000 September 1928 . .. . 8,479,000 December 1928 . ... 8,334,500 March 1929 . ... 8,359,300 June 1929 .. ... 9,711,000 September 1929 . ... 8,467,600 December 1929 . ... 8,387,500 March 1930 . ... 7,383,100 Total . 213,319,300

TIMBER. 1927-28 .. .. 33,072,342 feet 1928-29 .. .. 35,089,607 feet 1929-30 .. .. 36,305,550 feet GOODS. 1927-28 .. .. 215,881 tons 1928-29 ... .. 201,434 tons 1929-30 .. .. 218,042 tons CATTLE. 1927-28 5,742 head 1928-29 7,779 head 1929-30 6,501 head SHEEP 1927-28 61,688 head 1928-29 54,157 head 1929-30 58,453 head WOOL. 1927-28 .. .. .. 1,474 bales 1928-29 1,533 bales 1929-30 830 bales