PAPER MAKING

Hokitika Guardian, 1 February 1929, Page 7

PAPER MAKING

A LOCAL INDUSTRY. FUTURE ROSS IB I LJTIES. INVESTIGATION OF WOODS. Since its inception in 1021 tho forest products branch of the New Zealand (State Forest Service has lieeii studying the pulping and papermaking properties of New Zealand woods, including both native and exotic species. The results of these technical investigations were presented to the forestry section of tho Science Congress at Auckland on Friday in a report by Air. A. R. Entries n, engineer in forest products for the New Zealand State Forest Service. One of Mr Entrican’s most striking conclusions is that it is possible that ■New Zealand may become eventually a larger exporter of forest produce, including both pulp and paper. A together, fifteen New Zealand grown woods were examined, including three native softwoods, four introduced softwoods, and eight native hardwoods. Of the softwoods, insignis pine and kahikatea yielded strong, hut somewhat creamy ground wood pulps, sulphite pulps of fairly good colour, and strong sulphate pulps for wrappings, etc. Rimu, too, yielded by the sulphite, sulphate and soda, processes, a good grade of “kraft” stock, and although only a soda “kraft” pulp has been produced from kauri, just as good a product should be obtainable by the sulphate process. Wrapping papers, etc., of medium srength can be manufactured from the remaining softwoods—Austrian pine, Corsican pine, and European larch. HARDWOODS FOR BOOK PAPER. Tawa yielded a wider variety of pulps than any of the other hardwoods tested. Tawa grouiulwood was usable as a white filler; tawa unbleached sulphite for a now type of newsprint, and taw; bleached soda and sulphite pulp for book paper, etc. Although tested by a variety of processes, the commercial possibilities of tho remaining hardwoods, especially black beech, and kaniahi appeared to he limited to the production of bleached soda pulps for hook and similar papers. EXPORTING FOREST PRODUCE. On the practical question whether any pulp can he made cheaply in sufficient quantities and of a quality which will enable it to compete with other papermaking materials, Air Entrican says:—“Under existing conditions, it is true, there are few, if any, localities in New Zealand where the necessary raw material may be procured either ■ in quantity or at such a price as would enable a pulp and paper mill to compete with foreign producers. But, as foreign wood supplies ibccumc scarce, large volumes of intermediate products will become available from 'the man-made forests in various regions. These will create favourable conditions for the operation of all classes of pulp mills, whose main source of raw material requires to be in the form of round products. “Supplementary supplies of logging and mill waste will then be usable from adjacent native forests. Indeed, it is possible that New Zealand may become eventually a large exporter ol forest produce, including both pulp and paper. Some indication of this can be drawn from the fact that, in addition to the forest areas required for the perpetuation of the Dominion’s domestic wood supplies, there is available an area of over o.OOOIU'IO acres of land capable of producing at least 250 cubic feet ol wood per acre per annum. This rate oi growth is several times greater than that in North America am! in Scandinavian countries, where the pulp and paper industries are largely centred. DOMINION’S RARER'. CONSUAIRTION. “The local production of domestic requirements in such important commodities as pulp and paper is In itself a matter of national economic importance The average annual imperial ol piiij) and paper products into New Zealand is valued at over LI,000,(!()!>. representing over ‘10,0(10 tons of paper, including 22,000 tons of newsprint, 5,000 tons of other printings, over 5,000 tons of cardboard, etc., of writings, etc., H.OUO tons of wood pulp, and the remainder miscellaneous papers etc. The local production on paper is about ;j,UOO tons, principally wrappings, and the total annual consumption, therefore, nlxmt ‘l-1,000, equivalent to 691 b per capita. This is the fourth highest per capita consumption in the world, being exceeded only in North America. Great Britain, and Australia.

“As a result of previous tests, and having regard to the- various woods and pulp and paper markets available, arrangements wore made whereby the pulping pa.jyermakiug properties oPsix Now Zealand-grown woods wore investigated by the Forest Products Laboratory, maintained h.v the United Forest Service at Madison. Wisconsin. The woods studied included the native softwood rim it — four introduced soft-woods-—iusi nis pine. Corsican pine, Austrian pine, and European larch, and the native hardwood, tawa. Supported as they are by studies of the physical properties of pulps and papers

produced liolli on a laboratory and a lull eoniinereial scale, these results are of a practical and far-reaching significance and sufficiently conclusive to warrant the cstaldishment of the industry should adequate pulp-wood heeonie a va Hallo. s N K WSP IMN'T RU CC KBSFUI ,LY. PRODUCED. “The 'primary objective of the investigation, namely the production of newsprint, was successfully achieved, a high grade sheet being obtained by the combination of suitable proportions #, l i n sign is pine sulphite, and tawa sulphite and groundwood. A sheet cf somewhat poorer colour Unit good strength, was produced by llie standa"! softwood mixture of insignis pine sulphite and groundwood. Only three woods, riinu, ta"'a, and insignis pine, were successfully reduced by the sulphite nroeess. The experiments with rimu indicate that the unbleached pulp is too dark for use in newsprint, but suitable for wrappings, etc. Insignis pine can he reduced to a- suitable quality of pulp for use unbleached in newsprint, the yields, colour and strength quality approaching those of spruce sulphite. It appears to bleach readily. “Tawa yielded a sulphite pulp which piovcd useful with suitable processing for a new tyi>e of < newsprint. With somewhat diflci'ciit cooking conditions, tawa also yielded an easily bleaehnhle pulp suitable for book stock, All five softwoods, rimu, Corsican pine, Austrian pine, insignis pine and European larch, were reduced without difficulty by the sulphate process, rimu producing the best pulp, with the remaining woods following in the order given. Pulped by the semi-krnft process, rimu, insignis pine, and larch yielded much darker and somewhat inferior pulps, which, however, apjieared promising follower grades of lira ft papers and for hoards, etc. Tawa soda, pulps, although somewhat weak, possess excellent hulk and will serve for hook and similar grades of paper.” rnimfimnnMimi n mm\m n—ll