WOOD PULP.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 March 1926, Page 1

WOOD PULP.

A PROAIISIXG INDUSTRY. AUCKLAND, Alareh 21. In view of the recent decision of Australia to grant a bounty of £4 a ton on all newsprint manufactured in the Commonwealth, certain aspects of the pulping industry in relation to the timber resources of New Zealand were commented upon to-day by Air W. .). Keyes, secretary of the Internatioiiol Forestry Delegation. Big American companies were now interesting themselves in the progress of the manufacture of newsprint in Australia, and Air Keyes observed that it was surprising to find that something had not been done earlier in the Dominion to investigate the possibilities of establishing paper mills to take advantage of our soft wood resources. All the natural conditions necessary to ensure the stiecss of the paper industry appeared to exist in this country. Adequate water transport, the right kinds of soil woods and convenience of working them were three advantages tiiat were present at the outset. In Ausrtalia a large commercial orgaiisiatioii, known as the Amalgamated Zinc, Ltd., was behind their paper manufacturing firms and bail given promise of an assured market. "It seems quite possible that large soft wood forests which have been nurtured by the 'State could he pulped for the national benefit and profit,” said Air Keyes, "and the pulp product could be sent to Australia lor manufacture, into newsprint.” The soundness of such a suggestion, he claimed, was endorsed by the action ol great I American, paper maiiulaclurers who ! were exporting pulp in increasing quantities for manufacture in other countries. Within the past fortnight cables had been received to tho effect that lho International Harvester Company, of Chicago, had acquired huge timber rights in British Columbia, including pulp wood paper rights and pulp mills at a price of about £1,250,000. the company was incorporating as a Canadian firm, and one of its aims was to export paper pulp to Australia. If it would pay a great American company to ship wood pulp to Australia to reap tho benefits of the Government bounty, was it not reasonable to suppose the Dominion timber resources could be similarly dealt with? The State Forest Service of the Dominion had initiated a successful afforestation policy, and the scope, of its activities was continually widening. If States forests could be converted into pulp upon reaching maturity, and thus he made a very valuable national asset, then, it was time, Air Qoyes suggested, that, the question was inquired into by the proper authorities. It was certainly evident that the assistance ,U,ven hv Australia to the paper industry indicated an awakening of intores'in the Empire trade movement, and that New Zealand had a lead ol which it should not, hesitate to take advantage.