THE TIMBER TRADE

Waikato Times, Volume 111, Issue 18642, 21 May 1932, Page 5

THE TIMBER TRADE

AN IMPROVED POSITION

STATEMENT BY COMMISSIONER

(I3y Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Friday

New Zealand’s foreign timber trade at present shows- a greater promise than for several years, according to a statement by the Commissioner of State Forests, the Hon. E. A. Ransom. He stales that whereas imports have declined, exports have increased considerably. and trade is considered to be in a nr di better position than it has been for some time. For the first time since 1923 the foreign limber trade promises to be definitely in favour of New Zealand, the customs figures for the first quarter of 1932 registering a favourable trade balance of onproximately 5,000,000 feet, compared with an adverse balance of 3,000,000 feet for the first quarter of last year, and an average adverse balance of 6,000.000 feet for the first quarter of the years 1928-1930.

Slackness in local building and allied trades is emphasised by the small quantity of timber imported, which totalled for tho quarter only 1,845,000 feet, or less than oneseventh of that imported for the corresponding months during the 19281930 period. Of the Individual sorts imported, redwood and cedar, which are used for wealherboarding and joinery, have almost disappeared from the market. Douglas fir, which is used for longlength and general constructional purpose's. has been imported in negligible quantities only. Apple and benzine case shook?, which were Imported in large quantities in recent years, liavo now almost entirely disappeared from I lie. market, insignis pine and kaliikatea meeting almost the whole of the demands for export and domestic containers.

Butter Boxes and Choeso Crates. The demand for Imported butter boxes and cheese crates has not declined to the same extent as the other lines mentioned, but as contracts for many of these were probably made prior to the 1931 movements against sterling It Is thought that the curront demand for these products is much smaller than Is Indicated by the trading figures, and with Intense competition developing in the local box trade It Is likely that Importations of butter boxes and cheese crate shooks for next season will show a more marked deolino.

Timber exports, amounting to 7,426,000 feet for the same period, are over three times as groat as those for the first quarter of' 193.1, and only slightly below the average exports for the first quarter of the 1928-1930 period. In spite of considerable research in Australia to locate timbers suitable for butter boxes, and attempts to disparage the value of white pine for tills purpose, tiie Commonwealth continues to use New Zealand wood in preference to all others.