TIMBER IMPORTATIONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19836, 8 July 1926, Page 5

TIMBER IMPORTATIONS.

A DECREASE SHOWN.

AMERICAN SOFT WOODS POPULAR.

(From Our Special Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, July 6.

Some weeks ago, when the Dominion sawmlllers were complaining of oversea competition In the local markets tne Forestry Department pointed out that the position was being aggravated by the fact that forward orders from America were still coming into the country though the consumption had fallen off from December last. It was predicted that shortly there would be a decrease In the Imports, and that this would make the position slightly better for millers The figures prepared by the department for the month of May have just been released, and these show that the timber Imports for that period were over 2,i00,000 feet less than for the corresponding month last year. The figures were3.6l4,oooft ns compared with 6,348.000 ft, and were the lowest since February, 1925. The largo decrease is accounted for by the curtailed buyin" of Australian hardwood poles and sleepers by the various Government departments and local bodies’ agencies. Only 468,000 ft of these classes of timbers were imported for May last, vhereas some 200,000 ft more came into the country in M l y s iifothor months of the year trade In American soft woods has increased, 1,792.000 ft being imported as compared will 1441.000 ft in May last year. Douglis fi and hemlock account for the " lcr^ s ®J cedar being the only other soft wood imported to any extent, having fallen from rci 000 ft to 391,000 ft. 1 The growing importation of hemlock m dim to Us increasing use for general interior building work. The prices on tho Western Pacific Coast of America have hardened during the last two months. T * h p average Customs values, which equals the domestic value ln the Anr y i'l °°and B Tos 2d per IWft for March. A S i 50 ner cent. Increase within two months. It is considered unliltel how ' ever, that prices will rise any further.