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Hokitika Guardian, 14 June 1920, Page 2

The communication to the Westland Chamber of Commerce from Sir George Fenwick on the subject of establishing a paper mill for the Dominion brings the project into the region of practical politics. Not only is there tile demand for the commodity to he man !- factured, but there is the capital jn sight to carry out the great enterprise.! Moreover, here in Westland there is the timber available for the manufacture of paper and the nec-yu sary hydro-electric power to give ibe motive force requisite to -carry on tee manufacture. The great project appears, therefore, to stand on a very firm and certain basis. Having thus got the very promising proposition on such a satisfactory basis, it is for those concerned to use every endeavor to bring it into being. The Westland Chamber of Commerce has put the matter in motion, and should follow up the previous action-by directing the, attention of the Government to <he closest scrutiny of the undertaking. There appears to be a connection in this project with the scheme a,foot now to establish an Electric Power Board for Westland County. A paper mill would be a large and therefore a. very profitable customer for such' a Board. In any case a public Board sSuch las proposed ,could handle rue pow r er proposition more effectively than a private company which would have a difficulty in securing power rights and would have heavy rentals to pay. The Power -Board promises to come into being at a most opportune moment for the material advancemeit of the district.

With so many sawmills being established. thereabouts the suggestion iies been put forward that the waste wo id from these mills under a cheap transport rate by rail could be taken to the wood pulping' works to be converted into paper. The paper mill would' require to be adjacent to the railway line for such a purpose, and if .

could be fed with large isupplies of ‘ slabs and useless limbs of trees which are now a nuisance at most sawmills and have to be got rid of as best can. There is the qusotion also of utilising the sawdust from the mills for paper-/ making. Paper was made in England during the war from sawdust, and it should be a commercial success hero,, for a large amount of this waste material would be available. Paper is such a dearth on the market and isat such a price, that some extra ixpense could be borne in procuring available material for, manufacturing purpose which otherwise would be absolute waste. Such a project calls for full enquiry and investigation. The 1 Chamber of Commerce would do well to set up a special committee to go fully into the matter and glean the fullest information as to the resources of the district in regard to power, and put forward the information so gained for the guidance of the Government and those disposed to promote a large industrial project. The interests of the district warrant this, and an opportunity of such remarkable promise should on no account whatever he misfeed.