0.—3

5

Rimu also continues to suffer from the competition of North American and Baltic timbers, especially for flooring and. lining purposes. Beech was again exported in record quantities, and this species, due to the excellent manner in which it has been graded and marketed, has obtained an export market which can still increase considerably. The present market is mostly confined to clean-grade timber only, but millers have been strenuously endeavouring during the past two years to develop a market for the inferior grades. Present indications point to a fair prospect of success in this direction. The restrictions on the export of timber imposed in 1918 were repealed towards the end of the year, and operators are now at liberty to export without restrictions. It is not anticipated, however, owing to the reasons mentioned above, that the export trade will increase for some time to come. Imports of Forest-produce. Softwood timbers decreased in both quality and value imported, and totalled 33,276,000 ft. b.m. for 1927, or over 7,000,000 ft. b.m. below the peak trade experienced during the previous year. The main species of softwoods imported were again Douglas fir, white and red cedar, hemlock', spruce, and Californian redwood from Canada and the United States, and spruce from Baltic ports. Imports of Softwoods into New Zealand from Canada and the United States of America for Calendar Years 1925-27.

(Expressed in terms of feet board measure.)

The change in the trade, at first evident in .1.926, was more strongly developed during the year. Redwood is now firmly established as a weatherboardiug-timber, and not only has it almost completely displaced western red-cedar but it is becoming a serious rival to our own excellent native species. The decreasing quantities of western red-cedar now imported are used mainly for joinery purposes. Sawn hemlock, which for two or three years found a ready market as an interior finishing and lining timber, has now almost disappeared from the market for these purposes, due to many local bodies having classed it with white-pine as a species very subject to borer-infestation, and consequently prohibiting its use in general house-building. Douglas fir still finds a ready market, and during 1927 again experienced a record trade. Dairy-produce containers manufactured from hemlock and spruce continue to find favour on local markets.

Graph of Importations of Softwood Lumber from Canada and United States of America for the Calendar Years 1924-27.

Can) ada. United States America. Species. 1925. 1926. 1st January 1 st January 1927. toSlst 1925. 192B. 1927. to 31st March,1928. March,1928. \ I Douglas lir .. Cedar Hemlock and spruce .. Redwood Other 7,940,000! 8,787,000 2,870,000; 3,475,000 3,434,000 3.407,000 60,000' 400,000 10,000 80,000 9,001,000 1,555,000 9,107,000 8,034,000 8,637,000 2,652,000 1,187,000 267,000 3,638,000 5,536,000| 1,203,000 517,000 2,106,000 208,000 1,385,000 4,981,000 1,165,000 81,000 285,000 28,000 1,400,000 3,600,000| 7,298,000 2,194,000 16,000 7,000 276,000: 370,000 130,000 120,000 12,595,000 2,065,00015,866,000J22, 521,00018,433,000 5,564,000 Totals .. 14,314,00016,149,000 Grand total, Canada and United States : ;o March, 1928, 7,629,000. 1925, 30,180,000; 1926, 38,670,000; 1927, 31,028,000; January