TASMAN PAPER SCHEME

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27683, 13 June 1955, Page 10

TASMAN PAPER SCHEME

Mr Holland Visits Kawerau PRAISE FOR SPEED OF CONSTRUCTION

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, June 12. Impressed with progress on the Tasman Pulp and Paper Company's huge undertaking, and with Kawerau in particular, the Prime Minister (Mr Holland) returned to Rotorua today after inspecting developments on the scheme. . , Mr Holland was accompanied through the forest area by Mr A. R. Entrican, Director of Forestry, and Mr E. R. McKillop, who are both directors of the company; and by Mr D. D. Dunn, Conservator of Forests in Rotorua. At Kawerau, he was taken on an inspection by Sir James Fletcher, Mr M. L. Hobday, general manager of the company, and other officials. Reviewing the progress since he last visited Kawerau in May, 1954, Mr Holland described the development of the newsprint town as “almost unbelievable.” Meticulous planning and close co-operation between State and private enterprise and overseas and New Zealand minds had resulted in “this gigantic new primary industry, that would be a very big project in any country.” he said.

“There is a ready market here or overseas for every bit of the sawn timber, pulp, or paper we can produce from the timber crop of the Kaingaroa State Forest—all the 200,000 acres of it,” said Mr Holland. “Amazing Organisation” “It is an amazing piece of industrial organisation that has brought all this equipment and plant together to Kawerau to handle hundreds of thousands of tons of timber products from the forest to the wharves of Mount Maunganui for export overseas.” said the Prime Minister. “In a few weeks, only two years after work started, Kawerau will be turning out its first products.” Mr Holland was told that major contractors from 14 countries had combined to supply the essential equipment. He expressed his admiration for those responsible in bringing the enterprise to a successful issue, especially Sir James Fletcher. Although it was not a working day, the veil of secrecy surrounding the Kawerau mills was not lifted for the occasion. The gates to the mill site enclosure admitted onl" the official party. Mr Holland was told that there would be enough geothermal steam at Kawerau to kiln-dry the entire output of the timber mill—more than 70,000,000 board feet a year. This will mean an annual saving of more than £lO,OOO. Mr Walter Hammer, the project manager at Kawerau, paid a tribute to New Zealanders’ enthusiasm and efficiency as construction workers. He told Mr Holland he had never worked with such a capable body of men.