Lae’S Timber Requirements

Government Sawmill Cannot Provide All

From Our Own Correspondent

LAE, June 30.

NESTLING in the foothills to the East of Nadzab, and about 22 miles from Lae, is the Forestry Department’s saw mill known as Yalu Mill (the place name is shown on pre-war maps as “Jalu.”) The Army set up the mill for its own purposes but in 1946 it was taken over by the Department and has continued under its control ever since.

The area from which the timber is ob tained is native land over which timber rights permit continued operation.

In Army days an old Ruston steam engine provided motive power for the mill, but the concrete foundations have moved to such a degree as to render the engine useless and the main power is now supplied by a Ruston-Diesel engine of 100 h.p. A Southern Cross 30 KVA engine supplies all necessary lighting for the plant and dwellings.

The mill .handles timber known as Taun and Kwila principally, the former being a general-purposes hardwood used in all building construction and furniture, but is not satisfactory when used below ground level. Kwila, also a hardwood, is mainly used for decking and flooring, and when selected carefully is an excellent timber. Other timbers worked, but in a lesser degree, are Rosewood and Walnut and Erima. The latter is a valuable com mercial proposition, but requires treat ment in Borax baths. There are several timbers in the area which, if so treated, would prove excellent.

Cedar is very rare in this area, but, when available, can be used to advantage for furniture although softer than the better known imported Cedar.

AT the present time timber is being cut in an area about three miles from the mill site, and here the majority of the native labour line of about 80 is engaged in felling and sawing to suitable lengths.

The felled timber is hauled by means of a drag line and winch, operated on a tractor power take-off, to a position at the end of the logging road, sawn into lengths, and then conveyed to the mill by timber jinkers and trailers.

The native labourers, when engaged in felling timber which has been selected by the operator in charge, erect a peculiar triangular scaffolding which is placed in position at the side of the tree and on which the axemen work. No nails are used

in these constructions, all members being fastened together with stout creeper vines which abound in the forest areas.

An inspection of the cut-out areas shows that the natives build a separate scaffolding for each area, probably be

cause it is easier than carrying the com pleted ones from place to place. Most limber is felled about 6 to 8 feet from the ground.

When the timber arrives at the mill it is

winch-hauled up a chute to the breakingdown saws placed one above the other.

In the early days of Department control, great difficulty was experienced in obtaining replacements, but with ample supplies now on hand, and with the services of a skilled Saw-doctor, that difficulty has been removed.

For planing and dressing, such as tongue and grooved flooring, wall boards, cover strips, etc., the timber is carried by a

small rail line to another building and the finished article is carefully stacked for seasoning and drying. rpHE output of the mill over the past six X months was 6,000 super feet per day.

The mill operates for public as well as government requirements but the De partment of Works & Housing could utilise the whole output. As it is. the mill is unable to meet requirements of both the

public and the department, and the ques tion of permitting private enterprise to operate in approved areas under licence, demands attention.

With the exception of Bulolo Gold Dredging Limited and New Guinea Gold fields Limited, there are no private mills near Lae.

If the aim of the present Government in Australia is to encourage private en terprise and not operate in competition against it, a much more valuable contribu tion to the timber industry would result if the Department of Forestry were to exploit the development of timber areas and act in an advisory capacity to private en terprise, which, conducted on a purely commercial basis, and free from the un merciful overhead usually associated with government administration, could result in lower selling prices.

Recently all processed timber prices were increased, although it is understood that the overall profit to the mill over the past year was in the vicinity of 2/- per 100 log super ft.

It is generally agreed that the timber industry in New Guinea has in no wise been fully exploited, and with an un precedented demand for timber for build ing and constructional purposes, not only here, but on the mainland, early atten tion to the question of private enterprise, supported by the Commonwealth Govern ment to the extent of withdrawing from the field as a competitor, must have bene ficial results.

THE European employees at Yalu enjoy pleasant living conditions, but, to date, the Department of Forestry has made no contribution to housing problems other than to supply timber and roofing to enable the staff to build their own homes, in their own time.