TIMBER INDUSTRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23150, 23 September 1938, Page 12

TIMBER INDUSTRY

AUSTRALIAN IMPORTS SCOPE FOR RECIPROCITY VISIT OF DELEGATION Ail assurance that New Zealand could rely on reciprocity in the exchange of timbers with Australia was repeated last night by Mr. E. H. F. Swain, Forestry Commissioner of New South Wales, who is concluding his visit to the Dominion as leader of the delegation representing the Forestry Commission of New South Wales. The delegation arrived in the Dominion on September 8 and has been discussing timber trade relations and forestry affiliations. Mr. Swain arrived iii Auckland yesterday from the South and is accompanied by another member of the delegation, Mr. M. B. Welch, who is chief of the wood technology division. "As residents of a country Tvliere the municipalities'prohibit the use of native wood for building we were impressed by the extensive use of wood for houses and other buildings in New Zealand." Mr. Swain said. "We are beginning to grow a little tired of our entirely brick and concrete towns and wood is now being used for housing construction. The wood is coming from New Zealand, quantities of kauri, matai and rimu being imported. "I can give an assurance that New Zealand can obtain as many hardwood sleepers and poles as it requires from Australia," Mr. Swain continued. New Zealand would have difficulty in obtaining supplies for such purposes as the extension of electricity in country districts and probably the only alternative would be to import from California. Australia and New Zealand were geographically suited for reciprocity.

Mr. Swain hoped New Zealand would be able to send a strong delegation of forestry officers and representatives of the timber industry to the timber development congress to be held in Melbourne at the end of October. Tho congress, he said, was an extension of the timber development movement of Britain and Canada, and he hoped a strong delegation would attend with a view to the extension of the sanw movement in New Zealand. "New Zealauders could learn as much in Australia as we have learned here," ho added. Mr. Welch and Mr. Swain will leave for liotorua to-day and will return to Australia from Wellington at the end of the month.