RED PINE

Hokitika Guardian, 22 January 1935, Page 8

RED PINE

BRIGHT PROSPECTS.

IN AUSTRALIAN TRADE.

Mr George Trippner, of Butler Bros’ Ltd, lluatapu, who recently returned from a trip to Australia, in th e course of an stated he had made his visit t° Australia primarily foi private business reasons, but at the same time to look into the industry on behalf of the West Coast Sawmillers’ Association. He said that he visited Sydney and Melbourne, mQstly 'in the in- ; terests of the rimu trade; ‘and found that the outlook for rimu ther e was very bright indeed, [There was undoubtedly an increased demand for rimu in the building trade, and as a flooring timber he found rimu pre'emineht in Australia. This applied particularly to Sydney, where the only serious competition with rimu was colonial pine, an Australian native timber. Rimu was a clear pine and free from knots, so that it was pieferred to colonial pine and being sold at a competitive price had a command of the market to a certain degree. In Melbourne it was amazing to find that for every foot of rimu imported there was still two feet of Baltic timber. This was due to the manner in which the Baltic timber was marketed. The lengths were tied in bundles and the ends squared. In addition to these advantageSj the Baltic timber was light and easy to handle. In Melbourne the next most serious competitor with rimu after the [Baltic timber, was “mountain ash,’’ a euealypt. But supplies of this timber were not extensive, and in a few years time it would fade out.

The building trade in Australia was in a fairly flourishing condition, and it appeared that the rimu required f QI 1935 would b© in excess of the figure for last year, which was itself, considerably higher than the figures for any of the previous years. Provided the marketing of timber, at at present controlled by the millers, was maintained, the outlook for rimu in Australia was very bright indeed, Mr Trippner said. The position in the white pine trade was also encouraging, according to Mr Trippner! He said that in Australia there was a steady demand for the timber, particularly for butter boxes. Although hemlock could be bought at lower prices for general boxmaking, white pine would always command the market for butter-boxes and for boxes where a white wrapper was required.

It is considered by those interested in the timber industry that much of the rapid development in the last year had been due to the successful outcome of the work of a timber delegation sent privately by the industry to Australia to discuss marketing with th e consumers there.