BETTER TIMBER TRADE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21426, 25 February 1933, Page 7

BETTER TIMBER TRADE

INCREASE IN EXPORTS DEMAND FOR WHITE PINE FAVOURABLE BALANCE SHOWN [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTEB] WELLINGTON, FridayNew Zealand's overseas timber trade for 1932 showed a favourable balance of over 20,000,000 ft., board measurement, valued at £170.360, as compared with an adverse trade balance during 1931 of approximately 2,000,000 ft., valued at £47.900, according to a statement made to-day by the Commissioner of Stat6 Forests, the Hon. E. A. Ransom. During the period 1928-30, there was an average adverse balance of 32,000,000 ft., valued at £434,300.'

"Timber imports for 1932 show a marked decrease, and amount to only approximately one-third of the quantity imported during 1931, and 11 per cent of the average annual importations for the period 1928-30," Mr. Ransom said. "A comparison of the figur'es for individual items for 1932 and 1931 shows that the decrease is distributed through all the items except ook. This timber maintains a steady trade, mainly due to the fact that native timbers do not compete with it for the manufacture of the more expensive types of furniture. "Low imports of Australian hardwoods, Douglas fir and redwood- are due to continued slackness in construction and building trades. Competing native timbers have almost entirely displaced hemlock and spruce, formerly used for the manufacture of fruit cases, and imports of butter box and cheese crate timbers have decreased owing to similar competition. \ "During 1932, exports of timber.have amounted to 27,500,000 ft. board measure■ment, valued at £254,000, compared with 17,500,000 ft. board measurement valued at £174,000 for 1931. These figures indicate buying to replace depleted stocks and a general improvement in conditions in wood-using industries in Australia, and increased exports may be expected during the current year. "White pine constituted over 80 per cent of the total exports, and is expected to maintain a steady trade, its superiority for butter boxes remaining unchallenged in spite of occasional contrary reports by authorities in Australia. The average value per 100 ft. board measurement for 1932 exports was l§s 7d, compared with 19a lOd for 1931." The Minister supplied the following particulars of imports and exports, quantities being expressed in thousands of feet board measurement:—

IMPORTS 1832 Aust. hardwoods 2,883 Douglas fir . . 1,183 Butter boxes .. 1,475 Oak 4 . . . 894 Clieese crates . 175 Redwood .. 292 Ash ahd hickory 41 Cedar .. .. 7 Hemlock St spruce 31 Other ... 31 Total quantity 7,012 Total value £83,610 Value per 100ft. b.m. .. 23/10 1931 10,173 2,976 2,879 720 732 1.028 59 52 662 62 19,363 £223,210 22/10 1923-30 (average) 26,945 15,233 3,289 , 2,301 1,313 9,501 153 1,346 5,007 347 65,440 £803,300 24/« EXPORTS "White ' pine . . 22,226 Rimu . . . . 2,0(51 Beech , . . . 1,475 Kauri . . . 725 Other . ' . . 651 Total quantity 27,338 Total value £253,970 Vnlue per 100ft. b.m. . v 18/7 14,773 647 740 452 669 17,581 £174,410 19/10 25,029 3.832 2,412 1.827 1 687 2 33.78" -1 £369,000 i 21/10