CLEANER KAURI GUM

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 744, 17 August 1929, Page 6

CLEANER KAURI GUM

EFFORT TO IMPROVE MARKETS PROSPECTS FOR DIGGERS A kauri gum-cleaning works is to be established at Penrose. It will play an important part in the kauri gum industry, fjpo meet difficulties, notably the demand overseas for a purer gum, the Kauri Gum Control Board has been moved to establish the plant. The opening will be on Monday, and members pf -Parliament and exporters will be included in the attendance.

In North Auckland many of the older fields are yielding low grade gum, with a large percentage of impurities, now that better qualities have been worked out. In the United Kingdom, manufacturers mainlv sought until recently, poorer material to be used in such products as linoleum. The pendulum of demand has now swung toward higher grades of gum. For the diggers, a difficult position has arisen, especially for those on old workings. Laborious washing processes have been resorted to by many of the diggers in an effort to raise the quality of gum gained, but the small margin of improvement in return has scarcely paid the workers for striving for better grades. In some districts the diggers are seriously handicapped by the absence of cleaning facilities. FIVE PER CENT. IMPURITIES The control board’s effort now is to produce 90 per cent, pure gum. Allowing for moisture—s per cent.—in the gum, the cleaning process will leave room for only 5 per cent, impurity. Although only four employees will work at the plant at first up to five tons of gum can be handled daily. The extent of the need for the cleaning service will be determined after the plant has been working for a period. Qualified experts have told the board that, with regular supplies assured, there is a good market for chip gum of high grade. In the North, low-grade chip deposits are extensive. Should the working of these chip areas become possible, diggers wtto have been forced from their districts by the existing difficulties should be able to return to their occupations. With chip sales secured, old diggings, now waste land, will again issue supplies. It will mean a new era in an old industry. New avenues of sale may be opened for the higher quality gum. The gum will be cleaned by flotation. It will pass through three tubs containing solutions of higher specific gravity than the gum, but of lower specific gravity than the impurities. The gum will float and the impurities will sink. A patent drier will afterward subject the gum to a mild heat.