TIMBER EXPORT

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20887, 19 August 1939, Page 10

TIMBER EXPORT

SMALLER TRADE IN RIMU TEMPORARY AUSTRALIAN GLUT (Special tc Times) GREYMOUTII, Friday The hope that the diminution in the export ol’ rimu timber to Australia, experienced during the past few months is only a passing phase was expressed by Mr William Taylor, New Zealand Government Trade and Tourist Commissioner in Australia, when he visited Greym-outh in the course of a brief visit to New Zealand. “Many factors have contributed to the present position in regard to the export of rimu to Australia,” said Mr Taylor. "‘For example, the Victorian forests during the past summer were swept by unprecedented bush fires and this has produced the problem of salvaging as much as possible of the burnt timber, causing a temporary iglut of local timbers which will bo thrown on the market over the next 12 months. Competition For Rimu “In New South Wales rimu is in competition with both local and imported timbers and in relation to some of Iho local timbers there has been what virtually amounts lo price wars. Indications arc, however, that these factors will be, at least partially overcome during ihe approaching year, but, oil New Zealand's part it will involve a careful study of the timber situation in New South Wales from month lo month and aggressive salesmanship throughout the many avenues which arc users of New Zealand timber. “The white pine position,” continued Mr Taylor, “is in a different category. Up to the present the requirements of New South Wales box manufacturers for export butter have been met substantially by the white pine forests of New Zealand and the hoop pine forests of Queensland and New South Wales. Tariff Board Evidence “During the past two years New Zealand supplies have been restricted and an attempt has been made by American hemlock timber interests to capture at least a portion of the export butter-box container trade. “This was brought to a li*m<l by the matter being referred by the Commonwealth (i• >\eminent to the Tariff Board. Preliminary evidence was taken in both Melbourne and Sydney, but action was delayed until primary production interests and the Queensland millers could endeavour to iron out the position among themselves. As the matter stands at the moment the. Tariff Board evidence to be given in Queensland lias been deferred from month to month, but the indications are that the whole question will ;again come up for review in September. -In the meantime New Zealand is finding a market for such white pine as she is at present in a position to ship overseas,'' Air Taylor concluded.