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Hokitika Guardian, 17 June 1929, Page 4

The Progress • League took up last week the matter of wood-pulping in this district. At the previous meeting a reference was made to the mattei, and the Westland] Wood Pulp and Paper Syndicate was asked for further particulars. These were to hand, and reveal a remarkable attitude towards tlie enterprise by the State Forest Service, for which both the late and the present Government must accept responsibility. The history df the case showed that the Syndicate proposed to deal with those areas the sawmillers held and a't the same time as the big timber was being taken off. Jhe company had made representations to the Cabinet for an area of 75 miles by 25 miles, but that had been turned down without a reason being given. if there were something in the application the Minister objected to they could alter it, but they had no idea what the objection was. They proposed only to use land that was being milled. Negotiations bad started in 1927, the founders being two men interested in wood-i)U Ip from a scientific viewpoint. An expert had been brought out from America, and his report find cost them over £IOOO. Despite repeated applications to the past and present Governments, no advance has been made, while the Syndicate remains impotent in its desire to promote a great enterprise for Westland. It is one of the largest enterprises yet contemplated for AVestland, as the capital cost of thp undertaking is given at £350,000. The lahour staff alone would employ 125. The proposal on the face of it appears most reasonable, and certainly economical. To use up the waste timber on milled areas is certainly worth fostering, as otherwise fully ninety per cent ofrtlie timber remaining would be lost. Ibe Syndicate has evidently become desperate in | the matter, and brought their . grievance against the Governments for .refusing to deal with the application, before the Canterbury and Westland members of Parliament. At- the meeting at Christchurch last week, the proceedings closed with a remark by Sir Ileaton Rhodes that the Syndicate’s representive “ had given them a good deal to think about.” As Sir Heaton was a member of the late Ministry and a nominal Minister of Forestry for a time, it would appear he has just begun to think about the matter Why was lie not aware of the facts before? Has some departmental officer been keeping the matter I back? However, these are aspects which time should soon clean up. Parliament meets very shortly, and no J doubt questions will be asked and something said to clear up the mystery of the position. Meantime, the local Progress League has done well to take up the matter also, and show a lively interest in a project affecting so materially the future of the district.