No Decision Yet On Kaiapoi Paper Project

Press, Volume C, Issue 29671, 15 November 1961, Page 14

No Decision Yet On Kaiapoi Paper Project

-4 KtX J (From Ow Otcx Reporter) AUCKLAND, November 14. The plans for building a new £1 million pulp and paper mill near Kaiapoi were being held in abeyance, the chairman of New Zealand Forest Products, Ltd. (Sir David Henry) said in Auckland tonight. 7 , f '

A report that the mill would be operating next year was not correct, he said. ‘ ‘j.m ' “We haven’t even decided when we are going to start the building. In any case the mill could not be built in a year.”.

There were a number of aspects to consider, said Sir David Henry. ’"The mill plant for Kaiapoi has been purchased and negotiations for land have been completed,” he said. Even if he decided to go ahead with' the construction immediately, it would be at least 18 months before the mill would be operating. “It would be more like 21 months though,” he added. Sir David Henry said there were a number of reasons holding up the start of the Canterbury mill. At present he had three new mills on his hands and it wae a question of priority. In a few weeks’ time after consultants had studied the plans for the three mills— Kinleith, Whakatane and

Canterbury—a decision would be given on priority, With the building of the new Kinleith mill mere was enough construction work to use up all available labour and skills well into next year. The economic condition of the country also needed to be .taken into account. When the Kaiapoi mill was completed, it would use pulp from the Kinleith mill and large quantities of waste paper from Canterbury. The mill, would turn out at least 10,000 tons of paper a year arid would steadily increase. More than 100 men would be employed. As far as producing pulp was concerned, Sir David Henry said it was not in hit immediate plans.

I “We are governed by a number of conditions and ; must also take full regard to i the’effluent problem,” fie said. > “We don't want to make a nuisance of ourselves." At present there would be ! no effluent problem. > Sir David Henry gave the assurance that the mill would i go ahead as soon as possible !"VA‘S^S, ldb,gi ’“