FPRI highlight

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Part of Forestry Leaves

Title: FPRI highlight
Language: English
Year: 1957
Rights
Fulltext: F.P.R.I. HIGHLIGHT by nora alda WH:A T'S UP AT THE F.F.R.I. The Forest Products Research Institute is now a going concern and the conversion from the former Forest Products Laboratory and the Forest Research Section of the Bureau of F'orestry is practically complete. As of November, the FPRI had 139 full time permanent employees on its staff and 10 emergency laborers. The permanent staff will be increased somewhat after January 1. The operation of the Institute has been hampered considerably since the first of September, because of the breakdown in the power plant of the College of Agriculture which furnishes electric power to the Insttiute. It has been possible, however, to operate the veneer lathe a -few days per week since October 15. The sawmill was operated on November 7, for the first time since the breakdown. It has not yet been possible to operate the pulp wood chipper and the lack of fresh chips has caused delay in pulping studies. Breaking-in operations are underway to get the new paper machine into smooth operating condition. This machine will make a continuous sheet of paper 81/2 inches wide and as long as pulp is fed into it. Some time will be required yet, however, before the machine can be expected to operate with complete smoothness in all details. So far as known, this machine is the only one of its kind in this part of the world and it is expected to be of great value in working out problems connected with the manufacture of pulp and paper from Philippine woods and bamboos. THE DIRECTOR OFF TO ROME Director Eugenio de la Cruz of the Institute left Manila on October 30 to attend the F AO Conferences in Rome, as a member of the Philippine F AO Committee. On his reNOVEMBER, 1957 The Forest Products Research Institute turn from Rome, Director de la Cruz plans to stop at the ninth Pacific Science Congress which will then be in session in Bangkok, Thailand. HOME AGAIN Miss Esther Vergara, Jim Escolano, and Joe Orozco were feted at a bienvenida party held on October 15, 1957 at the FPRI lobby. The honorees have just arrived from the Forest Products Laboratory at Madison, Wisconsin, where they obtained a year's training in their respective field of work. Plenty of sweet lanzones and cookies were the main feature of the event. When asked what they thought of being back at the home base again, "there's no place like home" was all that they could say. "LUPANG MAPALAD, PERLAS NG SILANGANAN" A cornerstone with a long statuesque pole and the Philippine national flag proudly waving at its top, has recently become a part of the imposing frontage of the FPRI building. This new addition in the front lawn symbolizes greater strength and cooperation in the work being done at the Institute all for the greater glory and honor of the Motherland. COMINGS, COMINGS, AND MORE YET COMING The ordinarily quiet and still lobbies of the FPRI building are now full of life and activity with the addition of personnel in its various sections and divisions. Since September 1, 1957, the Institute can boast of 26 new members in the staff. But that is not all, we still have more of them coming. We only have to wait and see. (Continued on page 62) Page 49 FORESTRY IN THE ..• (Continued from page 60) close links which existed between the dollar areas supplying countries ?.nd the British timber trade before the war. It is felt by many sections of the trade that the American missed their opportunity in 1955 when the quota system was first introduced, American producers were then rontent to concentrate on their buoyant home market and showed themselves unwilling to cater for the needs of the U. K. market. The position has altered appreciably since then; the American home market is no longer such an attractive proposition to producers; prices and profits have fallen. American producers are now certainly keener to renew the British connection. They appear willing even to adjust their specifications to suit British users. But shippers will first have to overcome a barrier on the British side caused by ignorance of the qualities of American woods and long familiarity with timbers from other parts of the world. Even so, there is no reason why such a connection should not eventually be renewed on a larger scale than at present. British hardwood importers are complaining of difficulties in connection with supplies from Far Eastern sources, especially from Japan, where prices are rising and shipping delays are common. American shippers certainly have the advantage of speedy shipment in competition with Japanese timbers. Moreover, prices elsewhere have also been rising of late and this should increase importers' interest in dollar hardwoods, if shippers' prices there art keen enough. However, there will be noticeable resurgence in buying of dollar hardwoods in the immediate future. In the past two years the quota of L3 million has proved a~ple for the needs of the market and trade opinion is that the demands for oak, maple and birch, the main dollar hardwoods used in the United Kingdom, should remain within the limit of the formerly existing allocations. Indeed, this would seem to be the Government's reason for this unexpected move towards freedom. It had been anticipated that the quota would gradually be ra.ised, but complete freedom was not expected for some years yet. Meanwhile, consumption of timber in Europe is slowly recovering, country to expectations at the start of the year. Sof!wood consumption in the United Kingdom is a full 4 per cent up on last year's figures. Imports of sawn hardwoods up to the end of May amounted to 9.9 million cubic feet more than during the same perio'l of 1956; roundwood imports, however, are lower Page 62 than in 1956. Building output remains at a high level and furniture production has also emerged from the doldrums. Stocks with importers are now low enough to permit more forward buying. It seems probable, therefore, that in the second half of the year imports of h?.rdwood should continue to exceed 1956 levels. But it will be too early for dollar hardwoods to reap any significant gains; in the longer run such woods should increase their share of the market although it still remains conjectural whether they can ever regain their pre-war position. Hardwood suppliers everywhere will watch with great interest future developments in Britain's hardwood market.-Manila Times, August 10, 1957 1954 1955 1956 1957 Availabilities of Hardwood in the U.K. Monthly averages in cubic feet. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Total Imported Home 5.42 5.57 5.14 4.79 3.32 3.61 3.39 3.53 2.46 3.17 3.92 3.70 prod. 2.10 1.96 1.75 1.74 F.P.R.I. NEWS (Continued from page 49) "TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS ... " The cool breeze in the morn:!lgs, the very short days and the fast approaching darkness in the evenings and the occasional yuletide chants coming from your neighbor's radio are all symptoms of just one thing - it's Christmas again. And with the coming of Christmas, some of the FPRI staff have already began cleanning the cobweb and the dust that have set· tied all year long on their yuletide trimmings and decorations. Some have also started thinking C'1 what things to do and how to do them, wha. gifts to give and to _whom to give them, and a host of other little things that help make Christmas just what it is for. Of course, there is the usual Christmas program at the FPRI, the presentation that usually turns out to be a talent show; probably the Choir, if the choirmaster and members will have the extra energy to devote to the practice of the carols; and the usual pleasant greetings that is saved and said only on that particular time of the year - "MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL FROM THE FPRI STAFF AND PERSONNEL." FORESTRY LEAVES