THE GUM INDUSTRY.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 11 February 1914, Page 2

THE GUM INDUSTRY.

The steady prices ruling for kauri gum form an important factor in the commercial briskness of North Auckland. In the Northern Wairoa district some 500 men are digging on the several fields, and of that number 400 are Austrians. The latter are earning on an average £3 10s weekly and expert diggers are making £1 per day. All the swamps are being exploited, and many " large individual finds are reported. Diggers who have arrived from the Far North are carrying on work in a manner similar to that which prevails at Houhora, and are confining their operations to the poorer classes of swamp gnm which, owing to their bulk well repay handling. The sub-division" of estates is also having an an preciable effect on the sum market Those who have acquired farm sections lose no time m winning from the soil all the gum discoverable before the land is grassed, and in the case of actual gum lands, satisfactory terms for the complete exploitation of the areas are arranged with parties of diggers. Large parcels of such country are now on the market and whilst theb settlement will greatly curtail the gumfields area, pastoral de yelopment is receiving a pleasW impetus.—Mail. Pi easing