LOSING ORDERS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17526, 22 July 1931, Page 6

LOSING ORDERS

UN-KILNED TIMBER NATIONAL MUSEUM A ,TESt "It is significant that the specifications for the National Museum call for kirndried material. Unless this is forthcoming in native timbers, imported timbers will be used." ,'<'*: This quotation from tho annual report of the Forest Service adds another argur ment to the case for kiln-drying; /Big orders, it is evident, turn on kiln-drying. American visitors have urged the New Zealand timber industry to adopt it-, and the Forest Service lias advocated'ifc s lor years. Two years ago the Railway Department actually adopted ;■ a scluifne to establish an up-to-date kiln in each island, at a cost of about £IO.OOO each. Then came the slump!; ' Kiln-drying means a considerable capital expenditure,' and the moriey needs to be invested in tho rightf way. The Forest Service lias not able to find the funds which the Railway Department (with the-same good intention) undertook to find-rand did not'.'" I)AN,GFJI OF/ POOH PLANT V Under the heading of "industrial :techniq'uei v ' ot iho'jawmilling: itidusfrv* the Forest Service'reports for -the.Jrear 1920-31: "N/o. new dry kilns have .been installed, for the period under ;reyiaw» but there is ft rapidly increasing:.ofSprfc cifttioti of their, possibilities; and several units; it is .anticipated, will be erected during .the next yeah Several continue «t© atlelnpt artificial, drying with. iaeincieht ■equipment~Hso much,;sO that it Was fc)und\neeessary to.bii)|d,' cast a public, warjpnfi; that, jmless dried ;ih "kilns of' approved' and recognised design aiid operation, kiln-dried timber collld 'not be regarded as satisfactory.l',* Air-drviiig also shows technical faults: ''ln their yitrds operators Cont'iriuc to'.pay increased attention, t© :tji& improvement of stacking or' piling methods, ; but, there is still a-tendeiicvflo ffeep fHe*b'otf,6ins' ofihe piles too Ciosft to the ground, ant) vto fail to ■app'reetuto the importance of adequate drainage and gq6d .'sanitation.' t»j Stickers anil -waste timber infested with, insect* and decay are characteristic.of'too many yards.*.'/ The sawmills* aae„ of course, '\tt\»ing r ft. depressed • time.' ■lncluding 46. "mills operating in,-plantations M exotic irees, there are, irv New Zealand 420 sawmilii". At; tho date of the : report (March 1 Jl last) only 78 mills were working *MI time i 178 part-t.inie i 164 closed. ', ?De':. pressed trade'has; of course, sloWebttrp rtmi-ent' sales of standing 'timber. ■'' 'Although, its /receipts"'suffer thereby*/the Forest Service keeps standings titnoer off the depressed market as nijieh as possible. '■ '•■" " ;i ■;. *,"•'' •* ■•' V!" ■