DURABILITY DOUBTED

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11693, 4 December 1923, Page 4

DURABILITY DOUBTED

USE OF HARDWOOD POLES NEW ZEALANDER’S EXPERIENCES IN AUSTRALIA. DANGER OF DECAY. Per Press Association. GHR fSTCULURCH, Decomber 3. **lt is very evident that in constructing metal towers tor the support of over seventy miles of electric power lines from the Great Lake* to Hobart tho Tasmanian authorities have less contidcneo in the suitability for the purpose of their own hue hardwood than experts who are undertaking similar schemes in this Dominion.” This paragraph apijcared ill the report presented to the Schvyn Plantations’ Board to-day by Superintendent (Mr R. G. Robinson), after a six weeks’ tour of Australia. NOT SUFEIOIENTLY TESTED. Mr Robinson went on to say: ”1 bad several interesting discussions in New South AValcs and Tasmania with experts associated with the export of hardwood polo*, (hi submitting evidence of premature decay in New Zealand of imported poles, the authorities were not <«irpris©d» as they declared much of the timber was cut from comparatively youthful trees of species not connected with the. highest durability tests, and moreover which had not undergone any special examination by the Government timber officer.”