BLACK POPLAR FOR BUTTER BOXES.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 14 July 1938, Page 7

BLACK POPLAR FOR BUTTER BOXES.

EXPERIMENT BEING CARRIED OUT (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night. An experimental shipment of butter in boxes of black poplar instead of white pine is to be made shortly. The proposal was brought before the Waimakariri Biver Trust to-day when it was decided to permit timber from the trust's reserves to be used for the trial. The trust's engineer (Mr. H. W. Harris) said in his report that Mr. Morgan Williams, M.P., had spoken to him of a plan to try out a shipment of butter boxes in poplar. The trust had a number of trees suitable for the purpose and it was suggested that it should supply these for the cost of getting them out. It had been stated that the supply of white pine in New Zealand was sufficient for only another 15 years. If black poplar was found satisfactory the trust had a number of acres where trees could be planted and grown with profit. On wet ground this tree would come to maturity in from 20 to 25 years. He had suggested to those interested that some species of willow might also be tried.

Mr. Morgan Williams said the Forestry Department was interested in the prospects of black poplar for use in butter boxes. He confirmed Mr. Harris' statement that the white pine supply was considered sufficient to last only another 15 years. The trust adopted the suggestion contained in Mr. Harris' report that timber from its land be allowed for use in the (experiment.