WASTE OF TIMBER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18942, 13 February 1925, Page 9

WASTE OF TIMBER.

TONS AT LONDON DOCKS. PORTION FROM DOMINION. LONDON. Feb. 1. A thousand tons of well-seasoned Australian and Xew Zealand timber in square-edged planks, boards and flitches, has been lying at the West India docks for two years. It includes colonial pine, silky oak, Tasmanian oak, and New Zealand red pine. The trade does not seem to know it is there, and timber is needed for houses. Cabinet-making and other furnishing people engaged in these industries might advantageously use these woods instead of Austrian, American, Japanese and others. A big firm of timber brokers is of the opinion that there is no demand for the timber because it is unsuitable for furniture or ordinary building work. "It is very hard wood, and liable to split, twist and warp," said an official of the "firm. "I have seen some of it warp so badly that 2in. timber at one end becomes lin. at the other. It is expensive to work, compared with the softer Scandinavian woods coming here. "Some Australian timber was used in England for railway carriages, but was not a success. It was useful, though not entirely satisfactory, as railway sleepers, but was most useful for heavy work, like piles for harbour construction;" Australians point out that silky oak is largely used for furniture in Australia. There would be a good demand for it in England if it were better known.