THE PRINTING TRADE

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22850, 25 October 1939, Page 7

THE PRINTING TRADE

SUPPLIES OF PAPER FROM OVERSEAS

EFFECT OF IMPORT RESTRICTIONS

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.)

AUCKLAND. October 24.

Drastic reductions in paper supplies for the printing trade are expected under the conditions imposed by the import licences for the first half of 1940. Unless the conditions are modified for printing paper, heavy unemployment is predicted in the industry, and the development-of a wide range of industries dependent on paper will be checked. The situation was discussed at a conference of the Auckland section ,of the New Zealand Wholesale Paper Merchants’ Association and the Auckland section of the New« Zealand Master Printers’ Association.

It was stated that on present indications the printing trade could expect a supply of paper next year of not more than half of its present requirements, and the position might still further deteriorate. Both organisations agreed to request their parent bodies to make representations on the subject to the Minister for Customs (the Hon. W. Nash).

It was explained that about 50 per cent, of the Dominion’s requirements in printing and writing paper come from the United Kingdom in the normal course, and the remainder from Canadian and foreign sources. Under the third term licensing scheme, British imports were retained up to the limits of the 1938 figures, and there was a half cut in Canadian and foreign •supplies. On the face of things, that allowed New Zealand 75 per cent, of her normal requirements; but since 1938 there had been an advance of at least 50 per cent, in the prices of paper, and the markets were still rising, and likely to continue so for some time. As the comparison with 1938 imports under the licensing scheme was on values, the net result would be that instead of New Zealand receiving 75 per cent, of her normal supply, the reduction in practice would be to 50 per cent. A further complication was introduced into the situation, however, by the fact that because of war conditions the United Kingdom was unable to supply. Her usual trade supply of timber and pulp from Baltic countries to England was seriously interfered with by the submarine campaign. German war vessels appeared to be paying particular attention to steamers carrying pulp, and it was stated that already advice had been received of the sinking of 15 since the outbreak of war. One large Auckland importing firm has already been informed that two of the largest British mills with which it dealt had been closed down because they were unable to obtain supplies of pulp. It was pointed out that at the close of the Great War New Zealand was receiving almost all of its printing pacer stocks from North America, so that the situation fast developing in the United Kingdom paper export trade was in keeping with previous war conditions. In the circumstances, chaos would result if the allocations in the third-term licensing scheme were adhered to by the Government,