BUTTER BOXES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22754, 14 June 1937, Page 12

BUTTER BOXES

WHITE PINE SUPPLIES. CONTINUITY NOW ASSURED IN MANUFACTURE [by telegraph—own coriiksfonoknt] WELLINGTON, Sunday The difficulties that had to be overcome in negotiations for supplies of white pine for butter boxes for the dairying industry wore outlined bj' the Commissioner of State Forests, the Hon. F. Langstono, in an interview at tho week-end. Ho announced that a complete understanding had been reached between the interested parties. By allowing only two standard boxes, which could be manufactured from timber of uniform sizes, great economies in the use of white pine would be effected.

"During the slump cut-throat competition was ril'o among box manufacturers," said tho Minister. "Some box manufacturers were making as many as 33 saranac boxes at Is lid each out of 100 ft. of board measurement of white pine, when really only 26} regulation boxes were obtainable from this quantity of timber. It was these boxes, less than Jin. in thickness, which had such a deleterious effect on butter, and no one will deny that it was rank foolishness to put valuable produce in such poor containers. A continuation of this practice could not be countenanced and a regulation size was enforced accordingly. This has increased the cost of boxes, but will be more than offset by the real gain accruing to the industry through shipping produce in better containers. Box and Timber Shortage "Then came the box and timber shortage, with its.urgent need for zoning and a uniform box price for all dairy factories," said Mr. Langstone. "This was arranged and operated in conjunction with the Dairy Board. It demanded a continuous supply of white pine to box manufacturers, and the State Forest Service, in collaboration with the Saw-millers' Federation, undertook the duty of attending to this matter. Arrangements were made that box factories would work at as even pressure as possible all through the year, manufacturing boxes through the winter in readiness for next summer, and finance to permit this being done had to be arranged. "The next question was that of having a uniform box. Now, by allowing only two standard boxes which can be manufactured from timber of uniform sizes, great economies in the use of white nine will be effected. Control ol Export "To give effect to these determinations, the export of white pine had to be controlled, much to the dismay of those engaged in that trade, the export value having risen above the fair New Zealand price by almost -5s a 100 ft. board measurement f.o.b. The position has not been easy to control. "The dairy industry requires for next season at least 9,000.000 ft. board measurement front the West Coast, and it is consequently necessary to arrange this supply from that source. With this in mind the timber prices committee lias negotiated a tentative agreement with West Coast sawmillers to produce timber at something like a uniform price ex southern and northern mills. Some sawmills on the West Coast are so distant from rail and shipping facilities that road and rait freights run into as much as 8s a 100 ft. Others in tho northern area are more favourably placed. A pro forma price lias therefore been agreed upon at 22« (id f.o.b. some mills, and 20s f.o.b from other mills. Organisation and Control "To-day the whole of tho trade lias been organised and controlled as it lias never been hitherto," said the Minister in conclusion, "with the result that the dairy industry, tho boxmaking industry and the sawmilling industry have been woven closer tw gether, each possessing a greater knowledge and appreciation of the difficulties connected therewith than was otherwise possible, and/1 ant hopeful that the coming year will see a continuity of supply of timber, labour and industrial capital, all dovetailing into each other for the national good."