TRADE IN TIMBER.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 92, 18 March 1936, Page 14

TRADE IN TIMBER.

INCREASED EXPORTS. AUSTRALIAN’ MARKETS. WELLINGTON, March 16. A statement by Hon. F. Langstone, as Commissioner of State Forests, shows that the effect of timber importations on local industry is at present negligible. Complete statistics are now available regarding the trade in timber be.tween New Zealand anti other countries during 1935, and several of the most important features are unusually interesting. “While from 1921 to 1931,” said the Minister, “the quantity of timber annually imported into New Zealand was in excess of timber exports, since 1931 the reverse lias been true. In 1935 a total of 31,221,000 feet, board measurement, valued at £398,960, was imported, compared with 39,574,000 feet, b.m.,. valued at £364,000 exported. Considering the position sinco 1921, annual imports are still far below the peak of 82,000,000 ft b.m. recorded in 1925, whereas exports are much nearer the peak of 52,000,000 ft b.m. recorded in the same year.

“The imports for 1935 consisted of 11,000,000 ft of Australian hardwoods, largely in the form of poles, piles, Cross-arms and heavy construction timbers; 12,000,000ft' of Australian hardwood sleepers, and 8,000,000 ft of other species. At present practically all of the Australian hanvoods are essential to New Zealand, as durable timbers of requisite strength and size for the purpose for which the Australian hardwoods are used are unobtainable from the native forests, though the establishment of a wood-preserv-ing industry will alter this position in years to come. COMPETITIVE IMPORTS.

“The remaining 8,000,000 ft of timber imported consists principally, but not entirely, of timbers which are directly competitive witli native timbers and includes approximately 3,500,000 ft b.-ln. of Douglas fir i (Oregon) and a little over 1,000,0001 t b.m. each of redwood, Japanese oak, ahd box timbers (principally butterbox shooks). Much of the Douglas fir is imported in large sizes and long lengths, which it is not convenient for , most New Zealand sawmillers to cut, aucl the timber imported during 1935 capable of replacement by native species did not exceed 5,000,000 ft b.m. When it is realised that the estimated production of timber in New Zealand during 1935 was 300,000,000 ft b.m., it is seen that the effect of the importations on the local industry is at present negiliglble. 10Qr „ “The timber exports during lv3o, continued the Minister, “included 23,000,000 ft b.m. of white pine, 9,000,000 ft b.m, of rimu, 3,000,000 ft b.m. each of silver beech and matai, arid smaller quantities of kauri (500,000 ft b.m.), and insignis pine (1,500,000 it b.m.). The export of white pine was I the same as in 1934, and still below the post-war average annual exports of 29,000,000 ft b.m. of the species. | “Rimu exports to Australia have i grown rapidly during the past two years and the quantity shipped m 1930 Was the greatest recorded since IJ2I. The trade in matai, which is exported principally in the 0.8. grade, for which ail adequate market it difficult to obtain in New Zealand, grew from practically nothing two years ago to almost 3,000,000 ft b.m. in 1935, and undoubtedly a welcome business to : North Island matai sawmillers.