Department's Action Appreciated by Sawmillers

“The sawmillers of the Dominion will be distinctly interested and pleased to hear this announcement by the Minister of Railways,” said Mr. A. Seed, secretary of the Dominion Federated Sawmillers’ Association. “The need for kiln-drying plants for our timbers, to place them in better condition to compete with imported woods for many purposes, has been a long-felt want.

“The cost of installation of these kilns, however, is the obvious obstacle that has prevented their installation by the sawmillers themselves, as very few indeed have areas of bush giving sufficient cutting life to warrant such heavy capital expenditure. Therefore, the installation of an up-to-date kiln-drying plant in each island by the Railway Department should certainly lead to that higher utilisation of the produce of New Zealand mills that the Minister predicts; and this will be of decided benefit to our industry.

“There is still far too much timber being imported into the Dominion (greatly accentuating the unemployment problem), and its use is fostered by somewhat unreasonable local prejudice against our own timbers,” added Mr. Seed. “The action of the Railway Department in thus seeking means towards the higher utilisation of New Zealand woods—and curtailing the consumption of imported—will therefore give a useful lead to other timber-using interests, besides the benefit that will accrue to the sawmilling industry from the Department itself.”

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