IMPROVED TIMBER TRADE

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 December 1933, Page 5

IMPROVED TIMBER TRADE

MR CALLWELL INTERVIEWED. “There seemed to be definite evidence of improvement, in the position generally, and all parties with whom I spoke in Australia, were of that opinion,” said Mr J. W. Callwell, when discussing the timber trade in New Zealand, and the export trade with Australia, to-day. Mr Callwell, with Mr D. Reese, Chairman of the West Coast Sawmillers’ Association, recently returned from a business trip to Australia. “The cities in Australia, wMch we visited, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Newcastle, showed definite improvement in the building trade,” said Mr Callwell. “The building of big city blocks had gone off, but that is of no consequence to us, as very little timber is used in their construction. Quite a number of flats, and small houses have been and are being built, and it is such that use timber.

“The friendly relations between the Dominion and the 'Commonwealth as the result of the recent treaty, and the removal of primage duty on importations from New Zealand, will be of definite benefit. The primage duty was ten per cent, and that has been taken off. We received a cordial reception from Mr J. A. Lyons, Prime Minister of Australia, and other Ministers, at Canberra, who all stressed the greatest desire to assist trade between the two countries. New Zealand timber will be in competition 1 not with local Australian timber, but it is hoped with a certain proportion of Baltic timber, which has figured for so long in the past, in Australian importations will be displaced by rimu. An interesting feature was the dis-

covery of pinus inslgnis, milled on a Government plantation in South Australia, and sold for flooring purposes. This timber is considered in New Zealand, as almost worthless, except for concrete boxing and fruit cases. Australia is still having good seasons, and at the present moment there is considerable demand for white pine, for butter-box making, and also to some extent, for other purposes, such as shelving and even lining.

“Tho export of rimu from New Zealand, at the present time, represents a considerable increase on what it was a year ago, and there is reason to look for a gradual increase in the consumption of rimu in Australia, though prices may have to he kept very low, in the meantime. The increased sales of rimu in Australia, coupled with the improved business in Ney 1 Zealand, which is due chiefly to the building subsidy, is reflected in the increased output, and consequent increase of employment in our mills. The mills that are working should be getting distinctly better time in. The export of timber through the Otira tunnel to east coast markets, for November, was not far short of 2,000,000 superficial feet. It was the biggest month for a long time past,” concluded Mr Callwell. COAST MILLERS’ CONFERENCE. A meeting of West Coast sawmillers has been called for January 24, at Hokitika, to consider the report of the delegates to Australia, with reference to Australian trade. A “Star” reporter was informed by a merchant to-day, that there was an improvement in the trade at the commencement of this month, but as the holiday season is near at hand, orders are few to-day. It is hoped that the New Year will bring a better market. He added that the market could not show much improvement till after January, by which time the West Coast millers will have decided what attitude they will take in regard to trade with Australia.