The Grey River Argus FRIDAY, November 24, 1944. TIMBER SHORTAGE.

Grey River Argus, 24 November 1944, Page 4

The Grey River Argus FRIDAY, November 24, 1944. TIMBER SHORTAGE.

New Zealand probably lias never before been shorter of sawn timber than it is to-day. Wartime demands, especially for the Pacific campaign, have not only reduced the labour supply, but have absorbed entirely the stocks of millers and merchants as well as

all production during the past three years. The Government housing policy is limited by the lack of supplies, and likewise private building; accessible raw material has been steadily reduced and plant has been lessened in efficiency by extra wear and tear. It is, at the same time, conceded by those in the building industry that the timber workers have done an admirable job in maintaining since 1940 a rate of production enabling needs to be met to the extent that they have been met. To-day there are imperative precautions to be taken. The limited timber obtainable requires to be all- allocated to the best national advantage, whilst road access to timber stands must be improved and extended, as maintenance has by the war been S considerably reduced. In addition new forest areas have to be opened up. Nevertheless, the cut, even.though falling far short of demand, is greater than the accretion of raw material by forest growth. Nor will economies in I timber being effected by the use of substitutes in building avail to bridge the gap between the new growth and the cutting. Regeneration of native forests- is strongly indicated as a long-time constructive policy, but the immediate supply problem presses for a solution long before any replacementplan can exert an appreciable effect. The milling industry indeed is coming entirely under a degree of planning, but , timber growing has yet to be planned also upon a proper scientific system. Planning relates meantime only to. the use of labour power and of the remaining forests, though it is suggested that ‘the present critical shortage could be relieved in some degree'by the cutting of exotic trees, whether on State or private plantations. On the West Coast it is obvious •that milling soon must be extended to new areas, while at the same time the production off all areas must be distributed to the bestadvantage. Timber will at. least for years remain the basic material for housing and its availability will determine how many houses may be constructed. While other materials 'will doubtless be utilis- 1 ed increasingly, as they should be, both State and private enterprise in housing depends to-day upon a measure of reorganisation in the milling industry. In this connection it is desirable 'that the workers engaged in that industry should be accorded . more of a voice in (the determination of policy. The National Advisory Timber, Production Committee, which next month meets at Wellington, is to receive proposals whereby the use of remaining native forests would be planned by a tribunal representing the Forestry Department, the workers, and the millers. Such a tribunal, with an independent chairman, would act ’with an eye Ito co-operation alike in production and in marketing. A company, in which each mill would have a share-holding in proportion to annual output, would conduct marketing co-op-eratively, and distribute the. whole output; would regulate the pro-] duel ion of each member; and would be the authority to decide as to the types of mills to be established. The board of the company would include representatives of the’ State, and the private and co-operative groups in the industry. It would be the means through which State or private interests would be approached to extend milling in an orderly way. Jt also would distribute monthly to the mills the payment for their production. The plan would admit of State assistance for co-operative mills, in regard to plant, buildings and milling practice. As regards Stateowned forests, -the production of logs thereon would be the responsibility of the Forestry Department. Companies could be licens-

cd on agreeing to terms whereby logs would be provided by the State, with the royalties fixed uniformly, and the marketing would be done co-operatively. This, proposal may, at least, serve as a starting point for a more.organic industry in future, one which will have corporate autonomy, in return for greater serviceability. It is essential to induce the- utmost degree of order, because the days are over when lavish supplies of

raw material put no grea't premium upon economical usage. The timber supply is to be considered a national, rather than a yprivate or individual asset, and Vhe utmost co-operation of all interested is required alike in conservation, production and' distribution.