The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, JULY 13, 1926. SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 July 1926, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, JULY 13, 1926. SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.

In the course ot lus illuminating remarks with regard to scientific research, arising out of the report of Sir Frank Heath, the Prime Minister in tiie House last week, when referring to the scope of the special work the Government proposed to undertake, said that' Forestry would come under the scheme, and it would not he confined to growing trees. There was no reason, said Mr Coates, why wo should not produce wood pulp and manufacture our own paper, ' New Zealand had a climate particularly well adapted to forestry, and we could grow here in thirty years timbers that took a hundred years in other countries. New Zealand could look forward to future world markets in this connexion, and not merely to local consumption. Advocacy of such an industry is of importance particularly to Westland, where there is such a wealth of timber’, and where there should he such facilities for the further frowtli of timbers suitable for woodpulping. The Prime Minister’s reference to the possibilities of such an industry is well within the hounds of practical politics. Private enterprise lias been contemplating such an enterprise for some time, both in regard to directly using suitable forest growth, and also in respect to utilising the waste product from the sawmills, such as sawdust and slabs. The timber industry at present is in such a state that it needs revivifying, and as ail adjunct to the industry wood pulping carried out on the plan of Norway or the United States and Canada, the forest wealth would he utilised to greater advantage. The great development which could he brought to pass on the West Const in this respect woidd justify the harnessing of one or more of the water power systems for electrical energy to operate the machinery required for such a branch of indus-

try. Westland is riclilv endowed with forest growth suitable for wood-pulp-ing, and within easy range there are sources for hydro-electric power fully ample for so great, an undertaking. If in connection with the working out of industrial expansion following the report of Sir Frank Heath on the sulsjeot .the Prime Minister’s utterances are borne in mind there is not any reason why a great paper-making industry should not be established in this district. All. the facilities are here in the commodities necessary to supply the working material. The prospects for such a definite development auger so well that the local bodies should take up the matter by jointly setting up a committee of research to formulate proposals to Government on the matter with a view to a comprehensive sejienie l>eing nut forward. In former years there was indication of private enterprise taking up the project, hut the war period seemed to settle the matter of raising the capital required. There are areas of forest known to he specially favourable for wood pulping, and in the interests of local development attention should be concentrated on the matter to assist in putting forward data to attract either Government attention on the "renewed enterprise of capital in regard to such an undertaking. The Coast has special facilities, and Westland in particular, natural resources' for water power which appear to be placed by nature in situations commanding out- of the way for-

ests which should be of real value for converting tho forest into pulp for tho manufacture of paper. An undertaking which promises so great a development to the district should not be longer neglected, hut the whole subject be taken up with all the zest which real enthusiasm in the matter should create.