ai 



' Seasoning Depots. 



A large proportion of our timber consists of hardwood, -which is cheap, 

 and used for rough purposes. Such timber is cut at all seasons, sawn at all 

 seasons, and it often finds its way to the consumer direct from the saw. It 

 is not to be surprised at that such timber often warps and splits in a pro- 

 voking degree. The wonder would be if it did not. The remedies for this 

 state of things seem to be : — 



1. The observance of proper seasons for the felling of timber.. 



2. The establishment of seasoning depots. 



Xo. 1. has already been touched iipon. As regards the second, various 

 Government Departments, such as Railways, Eoads and Bridges, Harbours 

 and Eivers, Government Architect, &c., use such large quantities of timber 

 that it would be desirable if they could adopt concerted action to establish 

 seasoning depots in various parts of the State, and draw supplies as reiiuired. 

 Private persons could supply timber (cut at the proper season) in the log 

 or sawn, and this could be stored in the Government seasoning sheds, and 

 drawn upon for public works as required. In this way the use of green 

 timber could be reduced to a minimum, while the use of open sheds would 

 enable the timber to be classified as regards kinds 'and qualities to a far 

 more accurate extent than it is at present. To initiate and establish these 

 reforms could not be done without expense, but I feel sure it would be wise 

 expenditure, which would be recouped over and over again in the improved 

 and more uniform quality of the timber. The example would, I feel sure, 

 soon be followed by private enterprise. Let us now turn to the case of the 

 private supplier and user. 



I know something of the practical difiiculties which beset a timber 

 merchant in Sydney, for instance, in obtaining a supply of a certain 

 timber growing in a forest (say) hundreds of miles away — procuring it both 

 true to name and in a seasoned condition. I have often pondered over the 

 matter, and have wondered whether, seeing that the State is the principal 

 proprietor of forests, and that it has already a staff of forest officers, 

 ^vliether State depots (under lease or otherwise) might not be established, 

 where stocks of timber might be held, such timber having been felled at the 

 liroper time, seasoned for a suitable period, and branded with a mark which 

 would guarantee its true name. To carry out this plan would necessarily 

 require a State subsidy for a time, but I think that, under all the circum- 

 stances, a reasonable subsidy would be justifiably spent. In a few years I 

 feel cpnvinced that the advantage of seasonably felling, of seasoning, and 

 of properly naming our timbers, would become so apparent that private 

 enterprise would take the matter up, and the State could withdraw from 

 what might, at first sight, appear interference with private enterprise. We 

 are at the present time giving our producers object lessons in many ways, 

 and I do not think that a little State guidance in regard to the utilisation 

 of our forest wealth would be either illogical or undesirable. It is, of 

 course, understood that in making the above crude suggestions I am only 

 expressing my individual opinion. 



I published such diffident remarks in the year 1904, and as one who has 

 earnestly looked forward to a Forest Department with power behind it, such 

 sis we have at, present, I feel sure that something will be done, if only to 

 cause the brush timbers, many of which we believe to be useful, but which 

 are at present swept away without adequate test, to have the best trial that 

 can be given under the circumstances. 



