C—3

2. Log Sales. —Sawlogs and peeler logs comprised 89 per cent, of all logs produced by departmental logging schemes. The quantities and values of logs sold during the last three years were :

The increase in production of indigenous species resulted mainly from the first full year's operations in those areas in which new log sales were made in 1946. During the past year logs were sold to twenty-two sawmills, deliveries being as follows :

Departmental Sawmilling Operations 1. Sawn Output. —Sawn-timber production in departmental sawmills amounted to 22,831,000 board feet for the year. This represents approximately 5 per cent, of all timber produced in New Zealand during the year, and 14 per cent, of all exotic-timber production. For the first time more than half of the total output was sold in the form of sawn timber. The balance was used for boxmaking and for departmental building purposes. Statistics of the production and distribution of sawn timber during the past five years are given in Appendix XIV. 2. Waipa Sawmill—This mill again averaged a forty-eight-hour week throughout the year, with the circular rig again working both a day and a night shift. During the year, 265 nine-h.our days were worked, and production was again a record for this plant. Sawn timber produced and profits earned by this mill each year since it commenced operating during 1940 are shown in the following schedule

The reduced profit for 1949 is due to two causes : (a) the alteration of the exchangerate in August, 1948, meant that some of our prices for the Australian market had tobe reduced ; and (b) considerable lapses occurred between the time wage increases for

40

— Indigenous. Exotic. Total. Value. Cu. ft. Cu. ft. Cu. ft. £ 1946-47 1,174,000 2,783,000 3,957,000 154,300 1947-48 .. 1,721,000 3,284,000 5,005,000 203,600 1948-49 2,707,000 4,082,000 6,789,000 288,900

—- Indigenous. Exotic. Total. Percentage. Number of Mills. Cu. ft. Cu. ft. Cu. ft. Private sawmills 2,705,000 289,000 2,994,000 44 19 State sawmills 3,795,000 3,795,000 56 3 Total 2,705,000 4,084,000 6,789,000 100 22

Year Ended 31st March, Log Frame Mill. Circular Rig. Total. Profit. Bd. ft. Bd. ft. Bd. ft. £ 1941 .. 4,064,000 4,064,000 8,500* 1942 .. 6,346,000 6,346,000 9,000 1943 .. .. 7,696,000 7,696,000 7,100 1944 .. 8,272,000 872,000 9,144,000 13,700 1940 .. 10,066,000 2,345,000 12,411,000 20,100 1946 .. 11,379,000 2,379,000 13,758,000 21,400 1947 .. 12,367,000 3,771,000 16,138,000 14,900 1948 .. 12,649,000 4,132,000 16,781,000 22,800 1949 .. 13,300,000 4,691,000 1 17,991,000 19,200 * Loss during first part-year of operation.