Resources

New Guinea's Timber

Surrey by Experts

WHEN Dr. H. E. Dadswell, principal research officer of the forests divi sion of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research recently returned to Australia from six weeks’ survey of New Guinea timber resources, he was en thusiastic about post-war prospects of timber in that area.

At present both Australian and Ameri can forestry units are milling timber in New Guinea, with the help of the Forests Division.

Dr. Dadswell said that some of the best forests were in the highlands round Wau but, as far as one could judge, timber was there in millable quantities throughout New Guinea and New Britain.

There were quantities of hoop pine and klmki pine in the highlands which would be of considerable value after the war The best timbers available for use were hardwoods, such as taun, kwila, walnut, rosewood, teak, kaeda and various mem bers of the mahogany family. ‘‘Prior to the war,” said Dr. Dadswell, “there was an Australian import duty on timber from New Guinea. The timber is there, but it is a matter of getting to it It would be chiefly a matter of building and maintaining roads. But if we do get timber from New Guinea after the war it will have to be cut intelligently and kept under suitable control, with forest advisers* co-operating.”