FORESTRY COMMISSION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 305, 17 May 1913, Page 5

FORESTRY COMMISSION.

EVIDENCE IN WELLINGTON. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, May' 16. Giving evidence before the Foresty Commission to-day, Mr. Bennett, President of the Builders' and Contractors' Federation, pointed out that timber supplies in all parts of the world had been regarded as a field of exploitation for immediate profit without the least regard for the necessities of the future. In New Zealand we were treating a natural resource, which was not -a paying one, on the same basis as if it were an agricultural product, which was an annuafone. The future of the timb?r supply of the Dominion was a matter of grave national concern, and he expressed the hope that the Government would not yield to the interested vbvy our of a few, who, for the sake of their own immediate wants, or for persona! gain, would exclude all foreign supplies, which would have the effort of staving oil' the evil day when we should be comnelhd to depend altogether upon what wo might be able'to obtain from outside sources. NEARING THE END. Wellington, Last ''Nisht. - At the Forestry Commission, George E. Schwartz, president of the Wellington branch of the Architects' Institute, said that he had about thirty-live.years' experience in New Zealand. Timber was increasing, very much in price, and the quality was stcadilv down. A timber building was from 30 to +'!) per cent, cheaper than a building of brick or concrete. In America a largo amount of Oregon timber was tapped for resin and then. sent out as building timber. It was difficult to tell whether or not the timber had been tapped till after it had been used. One thing that should be observed in New Zealand was the time a tree was cut. Our timber was cut out of time and out of season, with the result that it shrank. Afforestation was a most urgent matter. In Germany afforestation was carried out continuously, with the result that they bad a full supply of timber. We had a country here that would grow timber quickly, and advantage should be taken of it. D. Cuddie, director of the dairv produce section of the Department of Agriculture, said that the Department had experimented with poplar for butter boxes with good results. The first essential in wood for butter boxes was that it should not taint the produce, and that it should be of whitish appearance, tough and light. It was not essential to paraffin white pine butter boxes having a double lining of parchment paper. He understood that the average price paid by the dairy companies for butter boxes was one shilling. It was essential that the timber should he seasoned. Unsound timber had a deleterious effect on cheese.

W. Milton Singleton, assistant director of the dairy produce division, who has had considerable experience in Canada, said that it had been the custom there to use tubs for butter, but latterly they had used boxes. These were made of "pine, which was paraffined to prevent its imparting an undesirable flavor to produce. Parchment paper lining was also used.

The Commission will conclude the hearing of evidence to-morrow morning, after which it will inspect a number of reservos and sand dune areas in Wellington province. Tt will then commence adjusting the evidence and compiling its report.