CANTERBURY PULP MILL PROPOSAL

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29206, 17 May 1960, Page 14

CANTERBURY PULP MILL PROPOSAL

Meeting Told Of Timber Requirements New Zealand Forest Products, Ltd-, required only 350 acres of mature, averagetype trees a year to operate a pulp and paper mill in Canterbury, Sir David Henry, chairman and managing director of the company, to|d a meeting of local body and business representatives in Christchurch last evening. That annual acreage of trees was the equivalent of the required 21 million feet of timber, Sir David Henry said. “It is sheer nonsense to suggest that there ' could not be secured in Canterbury, from public and private owners, the equivalent of 350 acres of suitable forest,” said Sir David Henry.

His company was seeking mature trees, from 30 to 35 years old, from an average type of forest—it was not seeking topranking forest, nor very sparse. “We will go ahead with our proposal if we can get the timber —naturally, at an economic price —if we have no undue problems with effluent disposal, and if we can make a reasonable profit,” Sir David Henry said. About 50 representatives of North Canterbury local bodies and business organisations heard Sir David Henry speak several times during the meeting, answering points raised, and applauded him loudly when he spoke finally on his company’s “firmness of intention" to establish a mill in Canterbury if granted a licence. Sir David Henry said he interpreted the phrase “firmness of intention” as meaning sincerity. There was no question of his company’s intentions to proceed if the various problems mentioned were overcome. “I don’t think any of you believe that our body of directors would lend themselves to anything that was not full of merit,” he said.

The meeting resolved unanimously that a deputation be set up to make representations to the Government to supply the necessary timber to operate a pulp and paper mill, after taking account of the quality available from other forest owners in Canterbury. “Disappointed” The meeting was presided over by the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr G._ Manning) who said that there had been immense enthusiasm aroused in Canterbury by the proposal to establish a pulp and paper mill.

“We were disappointed at the decision of the Licensed Industries Committee to defer its judgment,” Mr Manning said. Apologies were received from Mr R. M. Macfarlane, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Messrs J. K. McAlpine and N. E. Kirk, M.P.’s who all sent messages supporting the proposal to establish a mill in Canterbury. Remarks by Sir David Henry, and discussion at the meeting, concerned chiefly the availability of timber in Canterbury, and the “firmness of intention” of New Zealand Forest Products, Ltd., to proceed if granted a licence. There was in Canterbury, within his knowledge, at least 50,000 acres of exotic forest Sir David Henry said. He explained how, within 24 hours of his company’s application for a licence being lodged, he had written to the Director of Forests (Mr A. R. Entrican) explaining the intention, and asking if he would say what forests the State might make available for the project. “Unfortunately, the reply I received was quite uninformative of timber supplies, and, indeed, made it quite clear that he did not desire to see this particular proposal given effect to in Canterbury," Sir David Henry said. He then referred to Mr Entrican’s attitude at the licensing hearing in Wellington. Sir David Henry indicated his company’s annual timber requirements of 350 acres of mature, average-type trees, and said it was “nonsense" to suggest that that acreage could not be got from the State and private owners. He had tried to secure informa-

tion from the Forest Service “from the very beginning,** but had not been able to assure the Licensed Industries Committee that the timber was available “because that very information had been denied to us by the chief forest owner in Canterbury.” Mr E. A. Cooney, superintend-ent-secretary of the Selwyn Plantation Board, said that there were 70,000 acres of exotic forest in Canterbury. “Sir David Henry would only require 10,000 acres of that 70,000 to run a plant in perpetuity," Mr Cooney said. After quoting detailed figures of future estimated production from Canterbury forests, Mr Cooney said that he could give an assurance that the timber “was there," and called for exploitation of it. Further discussion followed, the proposal for a mill being supported by Mr M. A. Connelly, M.P., Mr C. Morgan Williams (Kaiapoi), Mr W. H. Gillespie. M.P., who criticised the attitude

of the Director of Forests. Mr W. P. Glue, representing the Lyttelton Harbour Board. Mr R. C Neville, president of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, and others.

The resolution to set up a deputation to wait on the Government was moved by Mr Morgan Williams, and seconded by Mr O. M. Williams, the Mayor of Kaiapoi.

“We have proved that the trees are available, and it only requires a bit of pressure to get them.” he said.

“A clearly-stated piece of com-mon-sense.” commented Mr H. P Smith, the Deputy-Mayor, who had at this stage taken over the chairmanship of the meeting. A further resolution called on the Canterbury Public Relations Officer (Mr E. G. Beckett) to arrange the deputation to the Government.