NEW ZEALAND TIMBER.

Otago Witness, Issue 3672, 29 July 1924, Page 24

NEW ZEALAND TIMBER.

EMBARGO ON EXPORT SOUGHT. WELLINGTON, Juiy 23. The necessity of conserving not only the buildi lg timber of New Zealand, but also locally-grown supplies which are used in connection with the pastoral industry, was stressed by a deputation from the National Dairy Association, representing the dairying interests of the North Island, which waited on Sir Francis Bell this morning. The deputation asked the Government to taken into consideration the question of prohibiting the export of white pine or kahlkatea from the dominion. A sympathetic reply was given by Sir Francis Bell, acting Commissioner of State Forests during the indisposition of Sir R. Heaton Rhodes. Mr Morton, chairman of the association, said he hoped the postion in regard to dwindling supplies of white pine would he relieved by the importation of timber suitable for packing. The Forest Service estimated that at the present rate of cutting local whito pine resources would be exhausted within 15 years. The demands of the industry were increasing as production increased, and would soon be doubled. Sir Francis Bell hoped that no one imagined he desired to see timbers exported. When he was Commissioner cf State Forests he had placed restrictions upon the export of white pine, but found himself against the difficulty that he could not prevent the settlement of kahikatea lands, which wero being burned off in large areas in northern districts. It was impossible to prevent those areas being cut and burned. will have the matter carefully investigated, he said, “and see if we can define arears which the Lands Department will a-greq should be preserved from settlement, and in which cutting may be restricted.” He was informed that 34,000,000 ft of white pine were exported last year, against 63,000,000 ft in 1914. Ho would be glad if the Dairy Association could suggest a means to the Forestry Department whereby kahikatea could be preserved for their own purpose without retarding settlement. Sir Francis Bell remarked m conclusion that they might imagine the department was up against the sawmillers, but that was not the case. It was up against the settlers.