IMPORTED TIMBERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19513, 17 December 1926, Page 16

IMPORTED TIMBERS.

USE OF CEDAR AND OREGON. LONG DEBATE AT TAKAPUNA. A strong deputation from the building trade waited upon the Takapuna Borough Council on Wednesday evening to protest against the resolution passed at the previous meeting/hi favour of framing a bylaw to prohibit the use of cedar and Oregon timbers in builclings.in the borough. Before the deputation was heard Mr, F. E. N. Gaudin, who had originally brought up the subject, stated he had said nothing in condemnation of Oregon, except as to its use close to the ground in contact with concrete. Although he had protested against the extent to which imported timber was being used in New Zealand, it was only cedar that he had specially objected to, on account ol its susceptibility to the borer. Mr. A. H. Wilkie, who had moved the resolution in favour of the proposed new by-law, and .had since given notice of a motion to rescind it, said he found that Oregon was one of the best timbers in use in New Zealand to-day, and he wished now to take back what he had said against its use. Mr. C. W. Parsons said that a meeting of builders had unanimously resolved that a by-law prohibiting the use of cedar would bo detrimental to the progress of building in the district. Mr. H. W. Dunmore said that in his experience in Canada he had never seen borer in cedar. Mr. Gaudin cited authorities to show that borer was l:o be found in cedar and that cedar was very susceptible to the insect. The Avondale and Whangarei Borough Councils had condemned the use of cedar and Mr. E. Page, S.M., of Wellington, in a recent judgment, had also condemned it. Mr. H. Bond expressed himself in favour of using local timber in preference to importations, but said it was not procurable in sufficient quantities. The Government itself Was using cedar. After the deputation had retired Mi\ Wilkie moved the rescinding of his motion of iast fnouth, which ordered that a bylaw should be framed debarring the use of cedar and Oregon. After a discussion extending until after midnight, consideration of the motion was adjourned to a special meeting to be held on Monday morning.