NEW SAW MILL OPENED

Southland Times, Issue 23990, 4 December 1939, Page 5

NEW SAW MILL OPENED

PROPERTY OF BIRCH AND COMPANY ENTERPRISE OF OWNERS PRAISED Many tributes to the courage and enterprise of Birch and Company in cutting through comparatively unknown country to erect what is claimed to be the largest and most up-to-date saw mill in Southland were paid at the official opening of the company s new mill at Tuatapere on Saturday afternoon. The function was attended by many residents of the district and visitors from Invercargill, including business men and members of Parliament. . In extending a welcome to those present Mr R. W. McCreath, one of the partners in the company, referred to the changes which had taken place in the saw-milling industry in New Zealand and spoke of the bigger demand that existed for 'timber today. Builders wanted dry timber, properly processed, and they wanted it in a hurry, he said. It was necessary, therefore, to have a large and up-to-date plant if one was to meet the requirements with efficiency. In planning this enterprise one of the first thoughts of the management had been to save hard labour and dispense with the bullocking work that the men had once had to put up with. Modern machinery had been installed which simplified to a large extent the task of the saw-mill workers. Mr McCreath thanked the men for giving up some of their holiday to demonstrate the working of the mill.

Mr W. H. Birch, the other partner, said he was pleased to see so large an attendance at the opening of the new mill. It was 17 years since his firm began saw milling in the district and it was felt that this new venture was a progressive step. Some might consider the distance the timber would have to be carried to the yard (six miles) rather far, but one had to follow the bush back. Mr Birch praised the work of those who were responsible for the construction of the new mill and thanked them on behalf of the company. COMMENDABLE ENTERPRISE The Hon. T. O’Byrne, M.L.C., secretary of the Southland branch of the New Zealand Timber Workers’ Union, said the company was to be congratulated on its enterprise. Years ago he would not have thought a firm would begin milling operations in the backblocks of Tuatapere. However, the firm had cut its own road through rough country and established in an unexplored corner of the district one of the . most up-to-date saw mills in New Zealand.

The Leader of the Opposition (the Hon. Adam Hamilton) expressed pleasure at being present and congratulated the partners on their initiative. Men who used their capital in such a venture deserved not only the greatest commendation but the best possible support of the people. It was out of such ventures, he said, that new communities grew and prospered. Applied skill, together with modem machinery, should ensure a large measure of success for the company. Mr W. M. C. Denham, M.P., also offered his congratulations. The firm had shown courage in opening a new mill, he said, because the future was so uncertain, and he hoped they would be rewarded with success. The speaker quoted figures which showed the importance of the saw-milling industry in the Dominion at the present time. The output of timber in 1938 was 323,000,000 board feet, and the total value exceeded £3,000,000, he said. The recorded number of saw mills of all classes in the Dominion was 504, giving employment to more than 10,000 men. The timber industry was of vital importance in the country, he said, and one of the many difficulties with which it was faced was a shortage of nails, which were made from wire—a wartime commodity. Mr Peter Hamilton, who has been associated with saw milling for more than 60 years, compared conditions in the industry today with those of many years ago. Mr F. J. Perham, of the Forestry Department, also spoke. THE NEW BUILDING The new mill is situated six miles from the Papatotara timber yards in country which has never previously been opened up. To give access to the site where the mill would be erected Mr Birch, with another saw-mill owner who was engaged on a similar venture, two years ago had a road made from the end of the existing highway to where his new building now stands. The road winds round steep hills, traverses several miles of beach, through Rowallan Creek and into the bush country of Tuatapere.

Although the plant is now in use the building is not structurally complete. Walls have yet to be filled in and some of the floor laid down, but it is expected that this will be finished by the New Year. With a length of 110 ft, and 55ft in width, the mill- is the largest in the province and when all the plant is installed it will be capable of turning out 15,000 ft of timber a day. The building was begun last January. The machinery is all new and is the latest of its kind. There are two break-ing-up saws, one above the other, with a few inches separating their teeth. The bottom saw is capable of cutting through a 28-inch log and the two saws together will cut a log of a diameter of five feet.

At 1 o’clock on Saturday afternoon the whistle was sounded and the plant was put into operation for the benefit of the visitors. Rimu logs were rolled on to the movable bench which took them to the breaking-up saw. A flitch roller carried the flitchers to the breast bench where they were cut into various lengths and sizes. At the docking saw the timbei' was classed and with its rough ends or knotty sections removed,

was ready for transport by motortruck to the yards. DAILY OUTPUT At present the plant is capable of milling 8000 feet of timber a day but when a second breast bench is installed the output will be 15,000 feet. The efficiency of the plant will be obvious from the fact that the average daily output in Southland is stated to be about 6000 feet. All the machinery is driven by steam supplied by an 82 h.p. boiler. Before the new mill was constructed the manager (Mr W. Buchanan) and Mr A. Johnston, a member of the staff, visited the West Coast to gain knowledge of the latest developments in sawmilling appliances and to discover new features to incorporate in the mill. One of the most interesting features of the new premises is the system of removing the saw dust which is thought to be unique in Southland. A common method is to allow the refuse to be carried into a water race which removes it immediately from the building without any effort on the part of the staff. This method, however, has resulted in a few cases in the pollution of streams, and Acclimatization Societies have taken action against the companies. Birch and Company’s mill has a trench running the width of the building and a scoop carries the saw dust along the floor of the trench and throws it into a deep gully several yards from the mill where it is burned.

The company’s old mill, which has been in use for 14|- years, is near the new premises. It has given good service and will now be dismantled.