asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry the price per cubic metre of timber purchased from State forests during the period January to May, 1982; and if the forestry section can vary these prices and charge more than the prices quoted by him.
Written Answers. - State Forest Timber.
904.
For various reasons, including the variety of tree species in State forests, size and quality of timber, market outlets, method of sale (standing or felled timber), end-use of the timber e.g. pulpwood, sawlog, stakes, poles, firewood etc., it is not possible to provide the specific information requested. Perhaps, however, it would meet the Deputy's requirements to know that, during the period mentioned, the range of prices per metre received by my Department for lots of standing timber was as follows:—
|
Category |
Average Size of trees |
Price range |
|
|
From |
To |
||
|
£.p |
£.p |
||
|
Pulpwood |
Up to 5 cubic feet (0.180 m³ |
0.83 |
9.20 |
|
Small sawlog |
from 5 to 20 cubic feet (0.180 m³ to 0.721 m³) |
3.84 |
24.89 |
|
Large sawlog |
20 cubic feet upwards (0.721 m³ upwards) |
12.05 |
25.54 |
I should add that the bulk of the timber is sold by tender and prices inevitably vary, mainly as a result of market forces and harvesting-processing costs. Moreover, sales of sawlog — especially large sawlog — are effected by such factors as competition from comparable imported timber and outlets available to purchasers for disposal of sawmill residues.