TIMBER FOR BUILDING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19559, 11 February 1927, Page 14

TIMBER FOR BUILDING.

QUESTION OF QUALITY. IMPORTATIONS FROM ABROAD. [BV telegraph.—own correspondent.] HAMILTON. Thursday. A deputation . representaing South 'Auckland timber interests was received by the members of the New Zealand Institute of Architects at their general meeting to-day. Mr. S. Valdcr, managing director of Ellis and Burnand, Limited, Mr. A. 11. Tompkins, managing director of the Bartholomew Timber Company, and Mr, J D. Smith, representing the Main Trunk Timber Trade Protection Guild, addressed the meeting. It was stated that the timber industry ■was passing through a difficult phase, and that many mills had closed down or we.re working part time. The cause of the trouble lay in the difficulty of disposing of the lower grades of timber. A serious factor was the increasing importation of foreign timber, chiefly Oregon pine. Th(? deputation suggested that architects should modjiv their specifications so that e 'i,i , , wdinary building timber cou.d be used wherever possible * Q U(, stio»ed as.to whether it would in.- • prove the position if importations were restricted to heart timber onlv, Mr. Vainer said such a measure would undoubtedly place the local industry 0 „ u faim . footing, but would not solve the problem oi the disposal of the lower grades 'Mr. E. It.. Wilson said that for' interior work a grained wood was demanded, while shrinkage was an objection to using unseasoned soft timber for joints. The framework of cottages', however, might just as well he made with ordinary building timber, but architects •were not responsible for 5 per cent, of these. He -suggested that the Builders' * Association, if approached, would be in a better position to persuade those buildmsmall houses to authorise the use of ordinary building timber, which would serve their purpose equally as well as heart.

:.lr. It- Edwards sua! | ;e thought a great deal more secoud-grade timber would be used if miller.-. would eliminate the very soft timber. Borer could be prevented "by the use of paint. He added that the Government might be asked to reduce the freight on second'grade timber. The reduced price would result in an increased demand Mr. V- Lambeth suggested that sawmillers should instigate research work to find,-a preventive dressing against borer. . timber were so treated at the mill 'the demand for it would be greatly Ihtreayid.