BUTTER BOX TIMBER

Waipa Post, Volume 31, Issue 1764, 29 May 1926, Page 7

BUTTER BOX TIMBER

DEMAND FOII WHITE PIJfE,

QUESTION OF PRICE,

Dairymen have lately been deeply interested in the controversy which has been exercising the minds of many over the supply of butter box timber for the Dominion's export of butter to the Home market and with the approach of the dairying export season,, developments have been awaited as to whether the local or foreign article would command the attention of factories.

iDanish timber has been imported into New Zealand in large quantities for butter box making, because of the discrepancy in price compared to the whifce pine, but several complaints were received from agents in England to the effect that the butter arriving in foreign boxes wa s taintefl. This has led to investigation and the Forestry Department has been studying the position for some time past. The attitude of the National Dairy Association upon the matter was conveyed to a reporter, by the secretary, iMr C. H. Backhouse who stated that the object of the association was simply to protect the interest of the factories and if possible, to save them money. There was no desire to facilitate the sale of the Swedish timber providing the price of New Zealand white pine came down to a reasonable ■figure, but the trouble in the past had been that the local millers and manufacturers had not been able to compete successfully with the imported article, with the obvious result that factories accepted that which was an economic attraction to them.

Large orders had already been given for butter boxes for the coming season and there was a distinct indication What the local timber would be used more than the imported stuff, although the Swedish manufacturer was still a serious competitor and was quoting a price in the vicinity of that asked 1 by the New Zealand manufacturer.

If the New Zealand box came down in price—or even remained at its present figure—all would be well for the dairy industry, and also for the millers; but so surely a s the price rose, then would the foreign timber come back again to capture the market Which tlbe New Zealand manufacturer so eagerly wished to preserve. The white pine box was recognised as the ■best package in the world, and everything pointed to factories using it if they could procure it in favourable condition.