TIMBER INTERESTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22933, 11 January 1938, Page 5

TIMBER INTERESTS

VANCOUVER VISITORS RECIPROCAL TRADE DESIRED EMPIRE PREFERENCE [by TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT J WELLINGTON, Monday With the object of visiting timber interests in New Zealand and building up goodwill between the Dominion and British Columbia and securing a larger exchange of products, Mr. J. H. McDonald and Mr. J. G. McConville, of Vancouver, arrived from Australia by the Awatea to-day. Their visit will have particular reference to the merchant organisation of the Associated Timber Exporters of Vancouver, of which concern Mr. McConville is manager and Mr McDonald a director. Mr. McDonald, who was chairman of a commission sent to New Zealand seven years ago by the Government, and who is on his fourth visit to the Dominion, said that the lumber industry, which had suffered in common with other branches of the building trade, had been very active last year. The market was the world and all countries served had risen in their demands. The United Kingdom was a heavy buyer and other main exporting was done to those countries that did not produce soft woods. The Chinese and Japanese markets, of ocurse, had practically dried up because of the warfare. The United States, said Mr. McDonald, were taking large quantities of timber and some was being sent to New Zealand, from which were imported hides, wool and other commodities. A lot of Now Zealand imports for fruit cases and butter boxes had been coming front foreign countries and it seemed an extraordinary thing to British Columbians' minds that Empire goods should be packed in foreign cases and a continuation of Empire preference expected. Timber exporters naturally expected consistency from a Dominion like New Zealand. Mr. McConville and Mr. McDonald will leave New Zealand on January 25.

GRAIN MEASURE REPLACING BUSHEL USE OF NEW UNIT EASE IN CALCULATION An experiment with a modified form of the decimal system of weights is being made by an Auckland firm of grain merchants. Instead of the ageold bushel measure, it is using the 1001b. lot as the unit of weight in its price quotations. One advantage claimed for the new unit is that it provides buyers with a simple and reliable basis for comparing the prices of various grains and poultry foods. In the past such comparison has not been easy to make quickly because the weight of a bushel varies with different grains, owing to the fact that the bushel is rather a measure of volume than of weight. Apparent Paradox If, for example, an inquirer learned that wheat was listed at 7s 3d and hulled oats at only 6s a bushel, he would be tempted to conclude that oats were considerably cheaper. Such a conclusion, however, would be erroneous. Hulled oats are dearer than wheat. The solution of the paradox lies in the fact that, whereas a bushel of oats weighs 401b., wheat runs at 601b. to the bushel. Although a buyer pays more for a bushel of wheat than for one of oats, he receives 201b. more weight for his money. Contrasted with this deceptive character of the bushel measure, the 1001b. unit establishes a basis of comparison so clear that even the uninitiated cannot be misled. Thus wheat would appear in the price lists at 12s Id per 1001b. and hulled oats at 15s. From this it is quite obvious that oats is the dearer proposition, by weight. Simplifying Calculations It seems to be a somewhat unnecessary tax on the memory of the ordinary buyer to be obliged to remember that wheat weighs 601b., oats 401b., barley ">Ol b., maize 561b. a bushel respectively, and that bushels of oats, maize and malt vary in weight according as they are crushed or uncrushed.

The new unit is apparently long overdue as a means of simplifying unnecessarily complex calculations. In addition to assisting the buyer, the use of .this unit seems to promise an even more valuable assistance to the clerical staffs in the computation of sales figures. Under the old system, the making up of accounts for quantities of grain is an irritatingly slow and tedious process. Very few clerks relish working out the complicated fractions which are constantly occurring. In view of the present high cost of clerical work, a unit which seems likely to save tiine by doing away with a great deal of laborious calculation should recommend itself to the trading companies concerned. As yet it has been adopted by only one firm in the city.

AUSTRALIAN MEAT PROBLEMS OF EXPORT INFERIOR CHILLED BEEF Consistently critical reports of the standard of chilled beef received in London from Australia are causing some anxiety in official circles at Canberra. It is feared that, in the negotiations for review of the Ottawa Agreement, British s representatives may argue that the inferior quality of much of the beef provides ground for reviewing concessions. The officer of the Department of Commerce in London, Mr. H. I?. Tinney, in a report despatched at the beginning of December, repeats criticisms which he has made frequently before, of the standard of many of the shipments. Referring to the Australian shipments in the preceding month, he savs: "The quality has at no period been outstanding, and in some cases was inferior. The fact that Australian parcels brought prices which were relatively high is more the result of a shortage of secondary grades of chilled beef than a tribute to the quality." It is realised that some steps will have to be taken to improve the quality of shipments. It is likely that the question will be raised at the next meeting of the Agricultural Council. The council has already tentatively reviewed the position, but no concrete proposals have been advanced.

Any scheme that is advanced will involve improvement of pastures. Many of the cattle now chilled are raised on poor pastures, and the animals are not fit for chilling. Improvement in pastures will mean raising the standard of cattle to that necessary to produce high quality chilled beef. Mr. Tinne.v also mentions that there has been disappointment at the standard of frozen lambs, many of which, he savs, were dry and unfinished, and lacking in bloom. He adds, however, that this can be attributed to the difficult seasonal conditions.