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Southern African Timber Growers Association Suider-Afrikaanse Houtkwekersvereeniging

211 Burger Street - P O Box 803 - Pietermaritzburg 3200 - Telephone (0331) 451366/7 - Fax 421076 - Telegrams SATGA Burgerstraat 211 - Posbus 803 - Pietermaritzburg 3200 - Telefone (0331) 451366/7 - Faks 421076 - Telegramme SATGA

Directorate: Business and Institutional Development Delpen Building, C/o Annie Botha and Union Street, Riviera, 0084 E-Mail:User59@nda.agric.za

NCT’ S 50TH BIRTHDAY

In congratulating NCT, on behalf of SATGA, on its achievements during 50 years of service to its members, it might be appropriate to reflect on some of the developments along this path. At the time SATGA was formed, NCT had been operating for some eight years. It was not very long before it became apparent that if SATGA was to be effective, it would have to rely heavily on the support of the timber co-operatives in existence at that time, one of which was NCT. The early records of SATGA refer to the active role played within SATGA by people such as Mr H F C (Heine) Küsel and later Mr P V (Volly) van Breda, both of whom also served as Chairmen of NCT. All the subsequent Chairmen of NCT also made significant contributions to the work of SATGA as members of the National General Committee and in many other ways. More recently, the current Chairman of NCT, Dr Carl Seele, took on the additional role of National Chairman of SATGA for eight years. One of the most significant developments in the history of non-corporate timber growers of South Africa was undoubtedly the establishment of the Central Timber Co-operative, and the woodchip export contract with Sumitomo Corporation, Japan. Once again, NCT was a major role player in CTC, and continues in that capacity. The scrapping of the statutory levies on all sales of timber in the round, on which SATGA relied for its income for many years, in 1993, necessitated a major change in SATGA's funding base. At that stage NCT generously undertook to make a substantial contribution to SATGA, in return for which all NCT members were offered membership of SATGA. This contribution represents a large share of the Association's revenue, and this very positive support is greatly appreciated by SATGA. Provision was also made for NCT and other organizations serving the timber growing sector to become corporate members of the Association. Apart from its basic function of marketing its members’ timber, NCT has ventured into many other activities aimed at expanding and improving the services available to its timber growing members. Examples are its extension services, support of research projects and certification of forest products, to name but a few. NCT has indeed come a long way since its inception in the offices of Union Co operative Ltd at Dalton way back in 1949. SATGA pays tribute to NCT for the substantial achievements realised in the past 50 years. SATGA also acknowledges with appreciation the tremendous support it has received from NCT, and extends its very best wishes for even greater success during the next 50 years.

The Chairperson and Directors NCT Forestry Co-operative Limited P.O. Box 1445 PIETERMARITZBURG 3201

Sir

It gives me great satisfaction to be able to congratulate you on the 50th anniversary of NCT.

I would also like to thank NCT for the services it has rendered to its members during the period of fifty years. The co-operative has succeeded in stabilising members in their timber operations. Furthermore NCT during those years initiated various projects which enhanced members' timber farming interests. Those initiatives of NCT were also beneficial to the timber industry in the country. NCT is regarded as a leader in the timber industry.

I wish NCT and its board and management every success in the years ahead.

Yours sincerely

J. B. FERGUSON

PlETERMARITZBURG

DIRECTOR

21 MAY 1999

Prevent Forest Fires - Voorkom Bosbrande

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