27 



During the later years of the war imports declined considerably in quantity, 

 but more recently they have risen again : thus, in 1918-1919 they amounted to 

 108 tons valued "at 3,141, while in 1920-21 they amounted to 1,265 tons 

 valued at 27,230. Prices rose considerably during and after the war. 

 Imports consist chiefly of teak from Burma and coniferous woods; before the 

 war the latter came principally from Scandinavia, but more recently imports 

 from North America have increased considerably. 



The average annual exports for the six years ending 31st March, 1919, 

 amounted to 327,421 cubic feet (6,548 tons) valued at 11,873, of which 

 320,471 cubic feet (6,409 tons) valued at 10,633 consisted of mangrove poles 

 for Arabia and the Persian Gulf. 



The question of building up an export trade in East African timbers is 

 worth consideration. An estimate prepared by the Forest Department shows 

 an available annual surplus of over 24,000,000 cubic feet of timber after satis- 

 fying home requirements. Even allowing for a considerable increase in the 

 local demand, and for unforeseen contingencies, there will probably be a very 

 fair surplus for export. So far as is known at present, cedar is the only East 

 African timber likely to be exported to England in any quantity. It is by 

 no means certain that any of the hardwoods which are available in sufficient 

 quantity possess such exceptional qualities that they will bear the cost of 

 transport to the coast and thence to England in successful competition with 

 the timbers of West Africa, or even of Burma and the Andaman Islands. 

 This question, however, should not be considered as finally settled until 

 further enquiries, now being prosecuted, have been concluded. There is a 

 demand in the London market for African blackwood or ebony (Dalbergia 

 Melanoxylori), but supplies of this are somewhat problematical. Consign- 

 ments of specially selected figured wood, burrs and curls, will almost certainly 

 find a remunerative market in the United Kingdom when the present period 

 of trade depression comes to an end. 



There is more likelihood of a successful development of trade with South 

 Africa, and the trade with Arabia and the Persian Gulf might be further 

 developed. 



The long railway journey to the coast is a serious handicap. Even with 

 the special rate of l- 2 - 5 - pence per ton per mile to the coast, this means a total, 

 freight charge of 1 9s. 5d. per ton from Nairobi and 2 4s. 9d. from 

 Londiani, or, say, an average of about 2 per ton from the timber districts. 

 At the end of 1921 sea freights from East Africa to the United Kingdom were 

 70 shillings per 40 cubic feet for light timber and 100 shillings per 20 cwt. 

 for other timber in logs, planks or boards. To South Africa sea freights were 

 Fls. 20 per 40 cubic feet for timber and Fls. 15 per 40 cubic feet for sleepers. 



Thus for freight alone by rail and sea from the highlands of Kenya 

 Colony about 7 per ton weight would have to be reckoned on to the United 

 Kingdom and between 4 and 5 to South Africa. 



Even assuming that there may be a reduction in sea freights in future, the 

 prospects of success in the development of an export trade will depend a good 

 deal on the extent to which the cost of extraction and conversion of timber 

 can be reduced bv efficient and economical methods of working. 



13. TIMBER EXPLOITATION. 



28. AGENCY OF EXPLOITATION. Timber is felled and extracted entirely 

 by purchasers under leases, licences or permits, departmental extraction never 

 having been undertaken in Kenya Colony. There would be some undoubted 

 advantages to Government if a certain proportion of the forests were worked, 



[243466] 4A 



