NEW BUTTER BOXES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19684, 16 July 1938, Page 8

NEW BUTTER BOXES

USE OF BLACK POPLAR CANTERBURY EXPER 1M ENT An experimental shipment of butter in boxes of black poplar instead of white pine is to be made shortly. The proposal was brought before the Waimakariri River Trust in Christchurch this week, when it was decided to permit timber from the trust’s reserves to be used for the trial. The trust’s engineer, Mr. H. •W. Harris, said in his report that Mr. C. M. Williams, M.P. for Kaiapoi, had spoken to him ol! a plan to try out a shipment of butter boxes in poplar. The trust had a number of trees suitable for the purpose and it was suggested that it should supply these for the cost of getting them out. It had been stated that the supply of white pine in New Zealand was sufficient for only another 15 years. If black poplar was found, satisfactory the trust had a number of acres where trees scould be planted and grown with profit. On wet ground this tree would come to maturity in 20 to 25 years. He had suggested to those interested that some of the species of willow might also be tried. Mr. Williams said the Forestry Department was interested in the prospects ol’ black poplar for use in butter boxes. He confirmed Mr. Harris’ statement that the white pine supply was considered sufficient to last only another 15 years. The trust adopted the suggestion contained in Mr. Harris’ report that timber from its land be allowed for use in the experiment.