THE SILVER BEECH

Southland Times, Issue 19255, 20 June 1921, Page 5

THE SILVER BEECH

SOUTHLAND’S ASSET RECOMMENDED BY FORESTRY SERVICE (Special to the Tunes.) WELLINGTON, June 18. Southland has a native silver Beech which has a bending strength 29.3 per cent greater than that of Tasmanian bluegum, This was the result of a test made at Meh» bourne University. The Minister of Indue " tries and Commerce (the Hon. E. P. Lee) stated to-day that the attention of ths Board of Trade has been drawn to tha various uses to which the tough, straightgrained, flexible beech of Southland can be applied satisfactorily. Specimens, which are on exhibition at the State Forest Service offices, include handles for various kinds of tools such as forks, rakes, hoes, shovels and spades. One of the department’s experts mentioned to a representative of the Board that the Southland beech would be as suitable as American beech for such purposes as backs of brushes, heels of ladies’ shoes, clothes pegs and many other articles for which a timber that does not easily split is necessary. This beech is also suitable for the lining of cabinets, the bottoms and backs of drawers, and for household furniture that is subject to hard wear. Generally the beech meets the need for thing? in handy use.

However, the Board’s officers have ascertained that it is rot enough for a New Zealand article to be equal or superior to imported goods. In some lines a prejudice which is hard to remove persists in favour of imports. Though articles made from the native silver beech have been on the market here at a price 25 per cent, below the quotations for similar imported goods, the “made in New Zealand” brand does not--find an easy sale. In the years before the war many manufacturers had a similar difficulty in inducing New Zealanders to give a fair trial to New Zealand gootfo. This trial was given during the war yearE not so much because the people had changed their belief that the imported article must be necessarily better than one made in their own country, as because the war reduced the quantities of certain exports from various countries to New Zealand. By foroo of circumstances people here bought New Zealand manufactures and soon found pleasant proof that the old prejudice had rested on a false foundation.

This fact was emphasised some time ago by Mr J. A. Frostick, a well-known manufacturer of Christchurch. “I feel on safe ground,” he said, “when I say that for honest value and genuine materials New Zealand stands in the front rank. So far this country has not acquired the act of making things appear to be what they are not and shoddy is practically unknown. Now that the public is beginning to appreciate the efforts of the New Zealand manufacturer, it is clearly the duty of both employer and worker to support this newly awakened sense of national preference by giving the best value and longest service, so that confidence may be established and grow into a strong and healthy sentiment— New Zealand for the New Zealanders. Thin is not a selfish policy, it is simply the process of nation building, mutual help and support.” Meanwhile the Australians have a better appreciation of Southland’s silver beech than New Zealanders have. Australia is importing quantities of this timber and ia putting it to various good uses.