PAPER STOCKS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 58, 27 May 1942, Page 5

PAPER STOCKS

SHORT —ALMOST EXHAUSTED CONSERVE WHAT YOU HAVE To show how short are the supplies of almost all classes of paper in this country, and the absolute necessity of conserving what paper is on hand, we reprint part of a circular received from the Federation of Master Printers: "Members of this Association feel it to be their duty to inform the trade of the present position, which is, already serious and will almost certainly become worse. "■Warehouse stocks of all commonly used papers (or of grades which can be substituted for everyday use) are almost, if not entirely, exhausted. Those printers who have stocks are urged to enforce economies on their customers by drastically cutting down sizes anil quantities so that these stocks may last as( long as can possibly be contrived. "The shortage began to develop seriously in 1941 during which imports) fell to less than half normal tonnage. In 1942, shipments; have so far been negligible and, in spite of the high shipping priority granted for paper, no early improvement can be expccted. because, as is well known, the ships are needed for defence supplies. "Even although some supplies; will eventually come through, it is important to realise that a position of more or less acute shortage will: continue throughout the war —and be-| vondi —and must not therefore be treated as a passing emergency!." Probably, however, an even more forceful reminder that stocks are .short came to our notice recently. While in, telephonic communication with probably the largest paper importing firm in New Zealand, a firm which has branches throughout Australia, an enquiry about paper brought the reply that the only paper in stock was some blue gummed paper. This from a firm which in ' the past would have a warehouse full. They have no means of getting

further supplies and can hold out no hopes of improved conditions for some time. We publish this, not in an alarmist attitude, hut in the hope that all users, of paper, big or small, will take our advice and make one sheet do where two were previously used.