THE KAURI GUM INDUSTRY.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9085, 2 March 1908, Page 7

THE KAURI GUM INDUSTRY.

GREAT DECREASE IN EXPORT. Per Press Association. Auckland, February, 29. “I don’t Relieve that there are more than a thousand men on the gnm fields at- the present time, although some_ people give a higher estimate.” said one competent to speak, in conversation with a Star reporter. The production of this ‘‘vegetable mineral” has fallen off rapidly of late. Last year there was a shrinkage of seven hundred tons, as comppared with the previous year. This year the decline, if the present rate does not improve, will be nearer 1400 tons, the shortage experienced already totalling 475 tons. Last year the total production was 8287 tons, the year before the export was 9514 tons, and the previous year 10,883 tons, so that the decline totals over a thousand tons a year. The prices showed a sharp advance, fully compensating for the loss of production, but there are indications that high watermark has been reached. Last month the London stock was but 521 tons, and one has to go back ten years to find as low a level. Notwithstanding this there has been a very poor demand, and at the London sales of Thursday of last week a decline was reported. One gentlemna interested in the trade who has just returned from a round-the-world trip went Home convinced that kauri gum was a necessity in the manufacture of varnish. His experiences at Home had corrected that impression. That it was the best material was undisputed, hut it could be done without, and in his opinion there will certainly he less used unless it can be more" cheaply procured in New Zealand. Notwithstanding the shortage in production, however, as it is the best, and people want the best, there is hope for the industry. At the same time extreme prices must not he too confidently antcipated.