PAPER SHORTAGE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2188, 12 October 1920, Page 4

PAPER SHORTAGE.

A TROUBLESOME PROBLEM. LONDON. August 19. In view of -the fact that the pulp of Scandinavia lias been bought, up for some time to conic, ami > that the Russian and German trade in this commodity has entirely ceafed, (Vliilo flic demand throughout tlio 'world at the present time is abnormal, tlie question of obtaining paper for newspaper purposes is a very serious problem. Mr P. Sclig (manager of the Christchurch Press Company, Ltd., and chairman of the Newspaper Proprietors' Association .of New Zealand), who lias just returned from attending the Press Conference in Canada, has naturally been interested in this .subject. The question was brought tip _at the conference, hut very little satisfaction resulted from tlio discussion. Air Imric (score, tary and manager of the Canadian Publishers’ Association) spoke at, the conference on the world-shortage of paper, and the high price, and ho gave n very informative address covering all the features relative to the present position concerning paper. Air Dawe (representative of the Canadian Pulp Association) was- also present, by invitation, and dealt with the subject from his particular point of view. It was thought, said Air Selig. by representatives from oversea, who wore feeling acutely the paper shortage, that a representative of the paper-makers—and not the pulp-ma kors—would have been tlJde to throw more light on the subject. As it was, Air Waive was plied with questions as to the diflVrence between the aelnal price of tlio paper in Aloiitreal, paid by local publishers, and that paid by proprietors in Australia and New Zealand. Some of the Australian delegates pointed out that while thev were able'to buy paper at a cost of £ll 10s per ton in Australia before the war, they had recently paid as much as £3O pm- ton. . . ‘‘ln the course of the discussion I asked, said Air Selig. “why j ap t which was being sold at Aloiitreal that day at 5i cents per lb, was being charged'for in New Zealand at more than double that price? However, Air Dawe Could give no satisfaction upon this point, lie said that was a matter Ir. tween' the makers and the _ purchasers. Tills statement, further .convinced those most interested that it would have been much move to the point had representatives of tit - paper-mai<ers been present to explain the situation. After a fairly I fee discussion;-.Lord Burnham, who curries great, weight in the newspaper world, ami who is a born leader, finished itis speech by expressing sympathy tor the Dominions v.'ho bad been suffering from the shortage of ijafier and high [trices, lie made a request to Mr Dawe that he should approac.i the representatives of the makers, with the view to securing for the Dominions a better supply, and thus ailording a. muchneeded relief. Personally,” added Mr Selig. “from enquiries I have made, I do not see that, much relief can be toiTbcoming for some lime. , . ~ “The miiis seem to work in combination, said Air tvlig, “added, sell what they can spare outside their coimnitmeiils to one jiitrt in Australia, whose [trices, compared with the prices paid in (, anada, are enormous. There are some small mills outside the combination, one of which is doing direct business with New Zealand, but any paper they are able to make lias been bought up" lot some time to come. '1 here will be no relief until the machines being added to the present mills are ready to make paper.” GRAND AIERE GARDEN (.TTY.

Ibiring tin.' four the delegates were entertained liy the I.uni’f’titide Pulp ami Paper Comnanv, who have their works at (erapd Marc, near Montreal. Tliis fompt!n>. prior f(> Hie war, did direct business, with Xcw Zealand, aiu! clients in days gone by were very well satisfic'd witli the way in wliicii (hey were treated. Tito_ cargoes of paper were conveyed by tins New Zealand shipping Company from Montreal, which was a very convenient arrangement . The delegates. before inspecting the milis. were entertained at luncheon. “The works.'’ said Mr Selig. “were a revelation. The visitors saw flic whole process of paper-making. Irom the taking of the logs from the river. through the stages of stripping ihc bark, sawing, grind ing, and boiling the wood, and finally the oiit-turn of the finished rolls ready for priming upon. “The thousands of workmen of the company live in the beautiful little garden oily of Grand Mere, laid out by their employers. It has its own amusement half ehurelu s. and inn. and everything is provided In afford the employees and their wives and children instruction and amusement on the -pot. The bouses, too. are most comfortable and convenient. The garden city generallv is an e\ id. nee of what can be done with enterprise and money. As a matfei of fact, everything has to be made as attractive as nossjble to keep the workers tit the mills, the head# of the firm also live there, the president s house, whic.i is caned a, log cabin, being on a somewhat grandiose scale. Tim whole town lias a flourishing appearance, and motor-ears are greatly m evidence round about the works,.