TIMBER INDUSTRY

Waikato Independent, Volume XLIV, Issue 1169, 7 September 1945, Page 3

TIMBER INDUSTRY

HUGE WAR PRODUCTION r “Since 1936 all timber, plywood and box prices have been under a Government price control system now in the hands of the Price Investigation Tribunal, Wellington, and so the . public are fully safeguarded from exploitation,” said Mr A. E. McCracken, • managing director ’of the timber milling - firm of Ellis and Burnand, Limited, Hamilton, in an address to the South Auckland branch of the New Zealand Society of Accountants. Mr McCracken said sawmillers generally were not enthusiastic supporters of the present method of price control owing to the time lag which continually occurred ‘before adjustments in prices were made to cover increased manufacturing costs. In a general survey of the timber industry, Mr McCracken said that, taking into consideration the heavy drain on manpower during the war . years, it could justly be claimed that the various units in all branches of the industry had collectively done a good job under difficult conditions. On the sawmilling side nearly 8000-” men were engaged in timber production, and by working increased hours' ~ during the war years they succeeded in maintaining, production at a considerably higher level than before the. war. The speaker gave the average v production for the years 1937-39 as 315,000,006 feet, and for the next six years the figures were:—l94o, 336,000,000; - 1941, 342,000,000; 1942, 324,000,000; 1943, 342,000,000; 1944, 350,000,000; a.nd 1945, • 340,000,000 feet.

The greater part of this production, it was explained, comprised rimu, matai, totara and white pine, but the volume of exotic ,timber being milled was steadily increasing. Pinus insigrius production had increased from 56,000,000 feet in 1941-42 to 85,000,000 in 1944-45. Practically the whole of this production had been used in the box and case-making industry, and in addition about 15,000,000 feet of rimu and maitai had been required to meet the needs of boxmakers for export for the armed forces in the Pacific. When the dairy industry had taken its share of white pine and rimu for butter boxes and cheese crates, and tallow casks wgye provided for, it would be seen that more than one-third of the total production had been absorbed. “While it may be claimed that with the conclusion of the war with Japan the demand for export cases would disappear,’ N said Mr McCracken, “this in itself will not release sufficient timber to assist the building trade greatly.

“It is well known that New Zealand must have hardwoods from Australia, the minimum annual requirements being 10,000,000' to 12,000,000 feet. To secure this hardwood New Zealand must be prepared to part with a similar quantity of softwoods. Actually if the above quantities were doubled, or even trebled, it would be of advantage to both countries. “It is evident, therefore, that the only way in which to remedy the position is substantially to increase the present production of timbers. The State Forest Service has indicated that a further 100,000,000 feet is urgently needed annually, and this can no doubt be produced, subject to the forest areas, suitable plant, manpower, housing and transport facilities being made available.” In all problems of shortage of materials confronting the building trade, continued Mr McCracken, the great peed was the production of raw materials. In the case of the sawmilling industry the need of skilled bushmen to extract the logs from the bush was a first consideration.

Mr McCracken said added timber production could be obtained by fully manning all existing mills, or by erecting and manning further units in idigenous and exotic forests. The abolition of many of the restrictions and controls suffered by the industry, together with a revision of the present burden of taxation, would do much to encourage expansion and promote greater efficiency.