C—3

timber-workers were granted and the time when compensating increases were authorized in timber prices—e.g., an increase on account of a wage rise in November, 1947, was not authorized until August, 1948, and a wage rise in January, 1949, had to be carried until March, 1949. Logs sawn consisted of insignis pine, 66 per cent; larch, 23 per cent.; corsican pine, 10 per cent.; and other species, 1 per cent. The proportion of clear-felled insignis pine was lower than last year's figure ; and this was reflected in a reduction in the -average log size and a slight increase in the production of narrow widths. The yield for the year was : Per Cent. Up to 6 in. wide .. .. .. .. .. 60 Over 6 in. to 9 in. wide .. .. .. .. 32 Over 9 in. wide .. .. .. .. .. 8

One new 66 ft. kiln was completed and brought into operation during the year, increasing the total kiln capacity to six 66 ft. and one 20 ft. chambers. Based on the •assumption that the plant is capable of drying for 335 days of twenty-four hours, the kiln operating factor was 94 per cent. The quantity of timber dried per kiln hour was 255 board feet. Comparative kiln-drying figures for the past five years are given in the following schedule

The kiln-drying costs of this unit are the lowest in New Zealand. The Waipa plant was established to turn out a superfine product, and proof of the quality of its output lies in the very keen demand which exists for kiln-dried timber on the Australian market. It is reported that this timber has established a standard in Australia against which timber from all other New Zealand sources is judged. With the higher output from the sawmill and a reduction in the amount used by the box-factory, substantially larger quantities of sawn timber were available this year for sale. Demand for timber remained firm, and an improvement in the shipping position •enabled the previous year's exports to Australia to be more than doubled, shipments

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Year Ended 31st March, Sold or Used Green. Filleted for Air Seasoning. Filleted for Kiln Dryin t. Bd. ft. Per Cent. Bd. ft. Per Cent. Bd. ft. Per Cent. 1945 3,629,000 29 3,366,000 27 5,444,000 44 1946 .. 3,917,000 28 2,486,000 18 7,355,000 54 1947 .. 5,846,000 . 36 3,167,000 20 7,126,000 44 1948 .. 4,534,000 27 2,670,000 16 9,577,000 57 1949 4,241,000 24 2,672,000 15 11,038,000 61

Year Ended 31st March, Green. Part Air Seasoned. Total. Percentage of Production Bd. ft. Bd. ft. Bd. ft. 1945 .. 5,196,000 487,000 5,683,000 46 1946 .. 7,077,000 750,000 7,827,000 57 • 1947 .. 7,525,000 721,000 8,246,000 51 1948 .. 8,611,000 1,162,000 9,773,000 58 1949 .. 11,323,000 557,000 11,880,000 66