Learnt Everything About Paper Pulp

Chronicle (Levin), 27 May 1949, Page 3

Learnt Everything About Paper Pulp

Press Asaociation)

(Per

WELLINGTON, May 26. "The proposal to establish a pulp and paper manufacturing project in New Zealand has been investigated thoroughly over many years and the Government is in toueh with many leading authorities on all aSpects of the scheme. ' ' This is the reply of the Gommissioner of State Forests, Mr. Skinner, to Sir Geeil Leys, chairman of New Zealand Newspapers 'Ltd., who, at the annual meeting of shareholders, iexpressed concern that the Government seemed determined to go ahead with the project without sufficient detailed advice and examination. ' ' I am glad to know that Sir Ceeil agrees that our forest resources render a pulp and paper mill .worthy of serious eonsideration, ' ' said Mr. Skinner. "1 can assure him that we are going into this scheme with our eyes wide open. We have conferred with pulp and paper manufacturers, with the makers of maehinery, with laboratory scientists, with economie experts and with many other experts fitted to advise on this scheme. The internationallv famous British iirm of Walmsleys Ltd. has been associated with the project for many years, having lirst been eonsulted by the New Zealand Government in 1927. The technical direetor, Mr. W. Adamson, submitted important reports in 1939, 1941 and 1945 and in 1947 his sueeessor, Mr. J. Temperley, submitted a report providing the f ramework for the present scheme. The Rust Engineering Company, of Pittsburgh, U.S.A., made an indepeudent report establishing that the project is an attractive investment as well as being strategically desirable in view of New Zealand 's remoteness from present supplies. Swedish consultants cooperated on various aspects of pulp making and bleaehing and British experts reported on paper making. "As an economie measure, the proposed pulp mill will use slabs and wood waste from a large sawmill and this has been reported on by yet another independent consultant, Mr. W. H. Ilambo, industrial plant engineer of Oregon. The two'main consultants are very well known in the United States and were highly recommended to the Government. Neither engages in the manufaeture of pulp and paper maehinery or sawmill maehinery. "Back in 1928 and 1929 the United States Forest Products Laboratory in Madison, Wisconsin, cooperated in the

testing of the papermaking properties of New Zealand grown wood, espeeially insignis pine. The forest products branch of our State Forest Service has earried out research into the same subject since 1921. The Sonthland paper mills of Lufkin, Texas, whieh is the only mill in the world successfully manufacturing newsprint from South-( land pine, earried out suecessful tests from New Zealand grown insignis pine in 1948. In 1947 and 1948 each of the leading Australian pulp and paper mills investigated the suitability of insignis pine pulp mixed with eucalyptus pulp, with most promising results. "Finally, accompanied by the Direetor of Forestry, Mr. A. R. Entriean, and Mr. S. J. Eobinson, of Auckland, representing the industry, I have just returned from North America where we had many consultations on the final details with experts in both Canada and the United States. Mr. Entriean is still there gathering more valuable information. "The country can be sure the Government will go into this scheme lacking no information or advice necessary for its full suecess." "i