HC Deb 01 February 1939 vol 343 cc195-7
32. Mr. R. Gibson

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what were the quantities and values of the various types of timber exported from Tanganyika and Uganda, respectively; what merchantable

TANGANYIKA.
— Cubic Feet. Value.
£
Cedar (Juniperus procera) … 2,850 570 (estimated).
Ebony (Dalbergia melanoxylon) … 3,850 962 (estimated).
Mahogany (Khaya) … 1,150 230 (estimated).
Iroko (Chlorophora excelsa) … 70,450 15,476 (actual).
Sandalwood (Osyris tenuifolia) … 7,350 1,470 (estimated).
Other sorts … 28,500 4,418 (estimated).
Total Timber 114,150 Total Value £23,126
UGANDA.
— Cubic Feet. Value.
… £
Logs, Mahogany … 14,441 1,444
Mahogany … 17,870 3,284
Iroko (Chlorophora excelsa) … 32,098 7,685
Other sorts … 16,678 1,732
Total Timber 81,087 Total Value £14,145

"Mahogany" includes the following species:

Munyama (Khaya anthotheca); Miovu, Mukusu, Mufumbi (Entandrophragma); Nkoba (Lovoa brownii).

"Other sorts" would include any of the following:

Light Hardwoods:

Musisi (Maesopsis eminii); Mujua (Alstonia cogensis); Musodo (Ricinodendron africanum); Nongo (Albizzia zygia).

Other Hardwoods:

Muhimbi (Cynometra alexandrii); Mukomakoma (Celtis).

Softwoods:

Podo (Podocarpus).

timbers are best suitable to be grown in these colonies; what efforts are being made to develop an overseas market in timbers from these colonies; and what timbers offer the best prospects for such trade?

Mr. M. MacDonald

As the reply is necessarily long, I will, with the hon. and learned Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the reply:

The quantities and values of timber exported from Tanganyika and Uganda during 1937 (the last year for which figures are available) were as follow:

The Forest Departments in Tanganyika and Uganda are continually experimenting with a view to determining the most suitable species of timbers with merchantable value which can be used in afforestation. Apart from the natural regeneration of the indigenous merchantable timbers, work is carried out in Uganda upon the regeneration of exploited forests and in schemes of reafforestation with Iroko (Chlorophora excelsa), Munyama (Khaya anthotheca), Mukusu (Entandrophragm anglense,) and Eucalypts (E. saligna and robusta.) In Tanganyika the species raised in the Forest Department nurseries are mainly Cedar, Podo, Olive, Eucalypts and Cypresses; these are used for reafforestation and also for the purpose of providing supplies of poles for building and fuel for the native population. The Forest Products Research Laboratory at Princes Risborough co-operates with the Colonial Governments in testing timbers with a view to ascertaining their suitability for various purposes.

In Uganda an organisation, known as Uganda Timber Sales, Limited, has been set up with the assistance of Government for the purpose of acquiring stocks of timber for seasoning and developing markets. This organisation is financed by a cess upon timber cut from Government forests. The cess is paid into a fund which is administered by a committee consisting of representatives of the timber industry and the Government

In Tanganyika, however, emphasis is laid upon the development of the local market, which is now largely supplied by imports of timber from Kenya and Uganda. As the saw milling industry in Tanganyika is largely in the hands of small concerns the Government is making efforts, through the railway administration and other public departments, to show the producer and the consumer the advantages of using seasoned timber.

Uganda Timber Sales, Limited, is directing its attention to the export market as well as to the local market, and the Colonial Forest Resources Development Department in this country is co-operating in making known the various East African timbers to consumers in this country. Exhibits of East African timbers were displayed at the Empire Exhibitions in Johannesberg in 1936 and in Glasgow in 1938. As South Africa offers a large market for East African timbers, special efforts are being made to develop the market there.

The timbers considered to offer the best prospects for an overseas market are African blackwood (Dalborgia mela-noxylon), East African camphorwood (Ocotea usambarensis), East African pencil cedar (Juniperus procera), Iroko (Chlorophora excelsa), Mahogany (Khaya anthotheca), Mufumbi (Entandrophragma utile), Mukusu (Entandrophragama angolense) and East African Olive (Olea hochstetteri).