EXPORT OF TIMBER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20508, 8 March 1930, Page 13

EXPORT OF TIMBER.

IMPROVEMENT LAST YEAR,;

ADVERSE BALANCE LOWER.

LOCAL BUTTER BOXES URGED.

[by telegraph.—press association.] WELLINGTON, Friday.

The fact that there was a slight improvement in the timber trade last year, as compared with 1928. was stated today by the Hon. W. B. Taverner, commissioner of State Forests. "The preliminary customs returns now available for 1929," said the Minister, "show a slight improvement in the Dominion's foreign timber trade as compared with the previous year. The total imports and exports for the two periods are as follows :—lmports: 1928, 60,516,000 ft. (£758,850); 1929, 63,001,000 ft. (£769,410). Exports: 1928, 35,029,000 ft. (£377,480); 1929, 39,103,000 ft. (£439,340).

"Although the imports increased in quantity by 2,500,000 ft., and in value by £30,000, the exports increased by over 4,000,000 ft., and in value by over £60,000, so that the timber trade balance of 25,487,000 ft. (£361,370) existing against New Zealand during 1928, decreased to 23,898,000 ft. (£330,070) during 1929. Favourable Tariff Changes. "It is hoped that this position will still further improve during 1930. Recent changes in the Australian tariff are definitely in favour of New Zealand timbers, as compared with Scandinavian and North American woods. "Approximately 40 per cent, of the total imports are of hardwoods, whereas of the exports only 8 per cent, are hardwoods. During recent years the increased purchases of silver pine telegraph poles, etc., have assisted to reduce the imports of constructional timbers from 23,750,000 ft. in 1928, to 22,333,333 ft. in 1929, while the total importations of hard%voods decreased in quantity by 1,333,333 ft. "The total importations of softwoods increased by almost 4,000,000 ft., the greater part of which was accounted for by increased importations of Californian Redwood, over 2,000,000 ft., and spruce butter boxes, over 1,000,000 ft. Of the total softwood importations of almost 40,000,000 ft., over 29,000,000 ft. are consumed by_ the building and constructional industries in direct competition with the native timbers. Local Mills Embarrassed. "As the consumption of local woods is now only 270,000,000 ft. and the cutting capacity of the New Zealand mills almost twice that figure, the quantities imported are sufficient to somewhat embarrass the trade. "Among recent developments is the visit of a timber delegation from British Columbia. In so far as its objective is to replace American timber by Canadian woods, the delegation has the support of the Government, this being in line with the declared policy of fostering interEmpire trade, especially that with Canada, which is a valued and increasing customer for New Zealand's exports of dairy produce and wool. "Commenting in detail upon the softwood importations, it would appear that the increase in redwood from only a few million feet in 1925 to almost 12,000,000 ft. in 1929, follows the decrease in production of totara from 21,000,000 ft. in 1922 to 11,000,000 ft. in 1928. As to the increased importations of spruce butter boxes, this is a very regrettable development from every viewpoint. The considered opinion of independent authorities upon the European butter markets is that the shipping of New Zealand butter in spruce containers is detrimental to its reputation. A "Significant" Point.

"Witli* reference to the total importations of softwoods for boxing and crating purposes, amounting during 1929 to over 8,500,000 ft., it may be said that the whole of this material can be satisfactorily produced in this Dominion. With the exception of rimu/ all the local woods showed an increase in exports for 1929, as compared with 1928. Australia continues as our most important customer, and purchased over 30,OCX),000ft. of white pine during the year, representing an increase of 5,000,000 ft. over the exports for the previous period. "It is certainly significant that Australia, which is endeavouring to raise the quality of its butter for the European markets, continues to prefer New Zealand white pipe boxes to the Scandinavian and North American spruce boxes. Small increases were recorded in the case of both kauri and silver beech."