A DECLINING INDUSTRY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 3, 5 January 1928, Page 4

A DECLINING INDUSTRY.

KAURI GUM SUPPLIES,

ONE FIRM HOPEFUL

The receipts of kauri gum into Auckland, after reaching the high figure of | 500 tons in November, dropped back in I December to 284 tons. The records of the past year show a decline as compared I with 1926, and, as a matter of fact, this I is merely a continuation of the decreasing tendency which has been a feature of an! industry that was once one of the most important in the province. The following table affords a compari-l son of kauri gum supplies received in store in Auckland:— I

The concensus of views amongßt kauri 'gxim dealers is anything but cheerfuL They state that the demand for gum is very poor, and when inquiries are made they are for the lower grades only. The entry of the Government into the industry, through the medium of the newly-estab-lished Kauri Gum Control Board, is looked upon as "the last straw that broke the camel's back." However, there is at least one firm which still has faith in the future of the industry, and its managing director said to a "Star" representative this morning that he was satisfied with the year's operations of his company. He said the firm was employing over 90 workers in regular occupation, and the plant was working day and night shifts. With improved machinery and better methods the business could be made to pay, "but," he added, "we must be freed from the hampering restrictions of the Control Board."

1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 j January .. 590 506 525 402 265 February . 658 475 492 389 198 I March .. 700 537 520 452 441 April .... 480 439 482 338 317 May 613 501 330 332 277 June 459 344 395 362 359 July 352 363 399 401 230 August .. 522 407 326 392 241 I September 450 373 404 287 323 October . . 490 471 299 229 385 November. 612 427 486 341 500 I December . 576 591 411 .325 284 Totals . 6502 5434 5069 4250 3820