Australian Impressed With N.Z. Pine Forests

Chronicle (Levin), 10 September 1948, Page 3

Australian Impressed With N.Z. Pine Forests

WELLINGTON, Sept. 9. Oue ecouomic barrier wliieh might hauiper the development of a newsprint industry iu New Zealand was the fact that Austraiian cui'rency w^s not on a parity with New Zealand currency, ' ' where itought to be, " said Sir Keith. Murdoc.h (chairman of the Austraiian' Newsprint Mills, Ltd.) today;. ;■ . ■■ Sir Ke'ith receiltly speni^ sdme days in the Rotorua (listrict examining log-: ging and sawmillirig operations in pine forests. ' ' The forests . are most impressive in size, and I should think there is urgeney i n the utilisation of the main bulk of the radiata becg,pSe it matures quickly and, when fully 'rhatpf edp presents diffi.cujties in .use,.fop s6"me of its main pur--poses, particularly p'apermaking, ' ' said Sir ICeith. "There is no doubt' that there is a vast provision there for paperuhaking, provided one or two obscure, ' facts about it are answered correctly," he added. "* : - Wh^t w'as needefl was "a iSiiLsca/rq test-- of tree's in-" their -yai4ptiA- V ithd vdridus^- age£ He nadVji^; vaoii|>a that there were other great difficulties, such as eoal supplies. Iu addition, paper-making required a very great quantity of water and the forests were unfortunately a good distance from the sea. '"I believe that all minor difficulties will disappear if the major ones can be solved by chemists, or if they are found by paper-makers to be capable of solution," he said.