PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 35 



where the land, which is eminently suitable for the growth 

 of this tree, is useless for other purposes. The bark contains 

 on an average 23 % of tannin, and it differs from wattle bark 

 in being quite free from" gum. It is sent to Sydney, where 

 it is landed at half the price of imported wattle bark. What 

 is required are central evaporating establishments close to 

 the ridges, where the bark can be extracted and the liquor 

 evaporated in vacuum pans. We have the idea in the 

 factory system of butter making. Attention was called to 

 the commercial possibilities of this bark in 1902 by H. G. 

 Smith, and F. A. Ooombs showed that it produced a heavier 

 and better leather than wattle bark extract. 



Native Timber. 



The amount of waste that is going on through the non- 

 utilisation of our native timber has been before us for many 

 years. We have immense stores of wood suitable for most 

 purposes, and yet we import timber to the value of three 

 millions annually, while the export is only one third of that. 

 We know that our wood can be utilised, but the fault 

 appears to lie with the public, who are not aware of our 

 capabilities in this direction. There is even a prejudice 

 against certain woods, apparently for the same reason that 

 there was, up to a few years ago, a prejudice against 

 articles of Australian manufacture. As the latter prejudice 

 has for the most part disappeared, it is to be hoped that our 

 native timbers will soon be assessed at their true value. 

 It is possible that the war, by reason of the heavier freights, 

 will compel a greater utilisation of our native woods, and 

 break down the popular ignorance with regard to them. 

 It is satisfactory to know that certain Government Depart- 

 ments are, in their specifications for tenders, insisting on 

 the employment of Australian woods. 



Eucalyptus Oils. 

 In the oils of our indigenous trees, we have a huge 

 national asset. From the leaves we can obtain three kinds 



