TIMBER MILLING

Waikato Independent, Volume XLIV, Issue 6105, 22 September 1947, Page 2

TIMBER MILLING

KING COUNTRY'S OUTPUT EXECUTIVE'S SURVEY The fact that the Main Trunk group of sawmills, from Te Kuiti to Ohakune, produced 80,000,000 feet of timber annually out of a total North Island output from native forests of 144,000,000 feet, was mentioned by Mr A. H. Delaney, general manager and director of Ellis and Burnand Ltd., in the course of a most interesting talk on timber milling to Te Kuiti Rotary Club recently. "The 8000 employees of the timber industry have done a wonderful job, both during the war and the post war period," he emphasised, showing that despite difficulties the production of timber was now very considerably above the pre-war figure. For the Dominion in 1935-36 it amounted to 293,000,000 feet; and in 1946-47 the total output was 360,000,Q00 feet. , During 1945-46 the timber produced was as follows: Native timbers, North. Island, 144,000,000 feet; South Island, 86,000,000 feet; exotic, 97,000,000 ft.; making a total of 327,000,000 feet. Annual Requirements ,

'.'. The estimate of the State Forest Service is that another 100,000,000 feet of timber is required annually—an extra quantity of timber that is going to be a terrific strain on the industry and its man-power at a time when the remaining reasonably accessible areas are closing in and are either State or native-owned," stated Mir Delaney.

At the same time the men of the industry were buckling down to their task; no industry had less labour troubles—a fact which he attributed to the # fine type of men in it—men who stood, to his mind, head and shoulders above those of most other industries. They were men who came to the executive direct and straight with their troubles and complaints, and they could settle difficulties on the spot. Furthermore, they knew their work, and they settled down to it, recognising that the executive direction was in the hands, of men who could also undertake the manual side of milling, and that the millers and they enjoyed the same "communal" outlook.

For milling did not stop with the five o'clock whistle; it concerned itself with the homes and the welfare of, its people, their education, and their environment. The speaker said he personally had had twenty years' experience as chairman of school committees, and was glad to say he often received letters from pupils who had passed through those schools. State Logging of Timber :

The State Forest Service in the Rotorua and Mangapehi areas had, with the idea of conserving available

timber, undertaken the policy of establishing logging camps, and the day was passing when the miller could secure the right to log and saw timber on a royalty basis. Native owners, too, were going ipto the question of forming incorporated committees to control their assets, and undertake logging, and in some cases set up sawmills.

Mainly because of the fact that the increased output per man more compensated for the greater maintenance costs, caterpillar tractors were replacing- steam haulers, and had undoubtedly made bush work much lighter, ana?" by their use in road and tramway formation had brought timber within economic reach which could not previously be handled. Except where lines existed, road transport was replacing the greater mobility.

Apart from this, there had been very little alteration in milling practice in recent years; breaking down and breast-bench work, were still highly skilled jobs, and though some improvements had been effected at Ongarue, yarding was very much the same.

Unending research was going on, however, and a properly equipped drying kiln, with control that resulted in the removal of water only from the 'timber was now essential in keeping up the, demand and ensuring quality. Preservation of Timber Coming

The preservation of timber was coming; it would be necessary to replace hardwoods for flooring. Progress was being made, and many millers were spending large sums of money in the processing of sapwood. The amazing growth of the plywood industry had been a boon to/many trades; the output now stood at no less than 24,000,000 feet a year. Wallboard and paper manufacture were playing a very big part in the economic life of New Zealand. Exotic timber was used, and in the North Island alone there were 350,000 acres of State exotic forests, plus 200000 acres privately owned; with good silviculture and good regeneration it was reasonable to assume that New Zealand would have a sufficient supply of softwoods. The ramifications of sawmilling could be seen in the fact that capitalisation amounted to £2 10s to £4 per foot of daily production of timber; thus at the lowest minimum a mill having an output of 10,000 feet a day must be. capitalised to the extent of at least £25,000. .

New Zealand was divided into sixteen zones, - which, after the allocation to priority consumers, each received an allocation of timber, the public being protected hy price tribunal prices. The set-up was functioning very well in getting the timber to where the need was greatest,