EXPORTS AND IMPORTS OF TIMBER. 227 



The receipts, as well as the surplus, were rising up to the year 

 1914_1915 ; after that the efEects of the war made themselves 

 felt. The average rate of royalty on timber prevailing throughout 

 the Commonwealth is about three farthings per cubic foot, as 

 compared with fourpence in South Africa, and it should be 

 substantially raised. At any rate, it seems clear that the forests 

 can provide the funds for an improved system of management, 

 their gradual amehoration and yield capacity, as well as for the 

 estabhshment of a sufficient area of soft woods. 



8. Exports and Imports of Timber. 



Before the great war Australia used to export hardwoods and 

 import soft woods ; there was generally an excess in the value 

 of the imports over that of the exports. During the war the 

 data have been so much shifted that they have, for the moment, 

 become useless. Under careful management the exports of the 

 excellent Eucalypt timbers should be capable of considerable 

 extension, so that they should exceed the imports. 



As far as can be ascertained from the official returns, the 

 imports and exports in 1913 were as follows : — 



Value in £ 

 Cubic Feet. Sterling. 



Imports of Timber . 46,000,000 .. 2,926,000 



Export of Timber . . 14,000,000 .. 1,011,000 



Excess of Imports. . 32,000,000 .. 1,915,000 



Value in £ 

 Tanning Bark. Cwt. Sterling. 



Exports . . . 144,000 .. 66,400 



Imports . . . 77,700 .. 28,000 



Excess of Exports. . 66,300 .. 38,400 



In the following pages detailed information is given for the 



several States. The data are based on those given in the Reports 



presented to the Imperial Forest Conference in July, 1920. It 



will be useful to begin with Queensland, that is to say, at the 



northern point of the Dividing Range. No report was received 



from Tasmania. 



Q 2 



