C—3

Waipa Box-factory and Planing -mill The demand for box-shooks in the North. Island showed a recession from last year's peak. Less than 4 per cent, of the year's manufacture was exported, but, with a further reduction in the domestic demand pending, a corresponding increase in exports to Australia will be sought during the coming year. Details of the annual production and profits earned since operations commenced in 1941 are shown in the following schedule :

Wood-preservation Plants 1. Waif a. -Owing to the lack of seasoned produce for treating, the plant operated at only 50 per cent, capacity for the first half of the year ; but from then on stocks were sufficient to maintain the plant in full production. The additional treating-tanks installed will assist in meeting the keen demand for posts and poles. Practically all round produce treated was larch, and details are given in the following table

Kelevant figures for sales and stocks On hand for the same five-year period are as follows :

43

Gross Timber Input. Year Ended 31st March, Profits. For Shook For Dressing Manufacture. Only. Bd. ft. Bd. ft. £ 1942 2,627,000 2,800 1943 4,380,000 8,200 1944 .. * - • 7,763,000 86*000 15,400 1945 7,645,000 383,000 20,600 1946 8,691,000 459,000 19,500 1947 7,468,000 862,000 8,300 1948 9,593,000 414,000* 27,800 1949 7,957,000 636,000 19,600

Year Ending 81st March, Posts, &0. Poles. Miscellaneous. Total Volume Creosoted. Creosote Used. 1945 1946 1947 1948 .. •• : • • 1949 Number. 93,500 34,400 38,100 23,100 77,600 Number. 2,900 9,700 600 6,500 Cu. ft. 3,900 5,700 12,100 8,600 16,100 Cu. ft. (approx.) 99,700 93,100 49,100 35,600 131,700 Gallons. 107,300 89,000 45,000 34,800 105,900 •

- Year Ending 31st March, Sales or Transfers. Stocks on Hand at 31st March. Posts, &c. Poles. Treated Posts. Untreated Posts. ■ Treated Poles. ■ Untreated Poles. 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 Number. 101,100 45,700 43,800 7,900 99,500 Number. 2,700 5,400 6,600 300 6,100 Number. 23,100 9,800 6,300 23,700 3,000 Number. 69,200 37,300 58,700 55,000 127,000 Number. 1,300 j 4,800 5,800 600 1,000 Number. 9,700 200 1,200 9,200