SILVER BEECH TRADE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21989, 26 June 1933, Page 8

SILVER BEECH TRADE

THE ENGLISH MARKET AN OPTIMISTIC REVIEW (Special to Dailt Times.) WELLINGTON, June 24. The possibilities of establishing New Zealand silver beech on the English market was optimistically outlined by Mr B. Bauchop, the representative of the Otago and Southland sawmillers, before the Tariff Commission to-day. “ Though it is not our desire in any way to oppose reasonable protection to the New Zealand motor-body industry (or any other New Zealand industry), there are certain aspects relative to the silver beech trade, both local and export, of which we consider your commission should be apprised,” said Mr Bauchop. "’One of the reasons which induced the Southland sawmillers to endeavour to establish silver beech on the English market was that the local and Australian markets were not large enough to provide a reasonably continuous market to absorb the output of the mills in normal times. The British public is at the present time definitely converted to the idea of using Empire goods, and British manufacturer fl are endeavouring to meet this demand by using Empire materials in their operations. It is impossible to say if this development will be permanent, but the general opinion is that while there will always he some measure of sentiment in favour of Empire produced articles it will not 'maintain the present intense feeling and that the proper time to establish Empire timber on the British market is the present. Little, if any, increase in preference for Empire timbers can be looked for, and it would appear that any effort to give further preference in the way’of increased duties would be met by reduced prices for foreign timbers. Some . current contracts do actually provide for this contingency. "The potential market for New Zealand silver beech both as rough-sawn timber for the jnotor industry, etc., and as dimension stock.for flooring, furniture, and turnery,” continued Mr Bauchop, is sufficiently large to act as a balance wheel for the domestic and Australian trade in this timber, evening out the fluctuations in the demand and enabling a higher, percentage of capacity to be obtained./, ihe indirect effect of this will be a minimum cost of production over a long period of years. ■ , “It is confidently .expected that once silver beech is established on the British market its merits will be fully appreciated and its face value realised. It is confidently believed that timber, prices will improve in England, but not in Aew Zealand and Australia, and that the present is the time to establish New Zealand timber on the British market and thus be in a position to take advantage ot these upward trends. «It is because of the conditions obtaining in England and the work done and the expense incurred in the endeavour■ to establish New Zealand silver beech on the British market that the saw millers ask the Tariff Commission to take these points into consideration when considering the duties as they affect the motor body industry, for it cannot be expected that British motor body manufacturers will purchase New Zealand silver beech if it ia impossible to send their manufactured article to New Zealand. It is hoped to reduce the costs of production to a minimum and that the sawmillers will play their part in the rehabilitation of the country by increasing employment and displaying enterprise in the development of a new market and in assisting the Dominion to return to a state of normality.” In reply to Dr Craig, Mr Bauchop said that the New Zealand market could not absorb more than one-sixteenth of the requirements of the English market, which could take 8,000,000 superficial feet.. Dr Craig: You are in the position to supply the English market? Mr Bauchop: Yes. , Professor Murphy: Is the woodwork an ancillary to the steel in motor body buildm|ir Bauchop said the English, motor car manufacturers preferred wood. Mr Gow: It is an unlimited supply of silver, beech? Mr Bauchop: Practically over a period of many years. . , , . Mr Gow; Is it your intention to 1 ship any other timber Home? . Mr Bauchop: We hope to send matai also and tawa from the North Island. Mr Pascoe: Boughly, can you get supplies for the next 25 years? 1 Mr Bauchop: Yes, . Mr A. Seed, who. accompanied Mr Bauchop, said that it had been* definitely determined by the State iForcst Service that the beech forests, could be regenerated by proper forestry methods and made to yield timber perpetually. Mr Bauchop said the department had stopped the running of stock on the beech forest land. '