Tasman To Make Packaging Board

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31145, 23 August 1966, Page 18

Tasman To Make Packaging Board

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) SYDNEY, August 22. The Tasman Pulp and Paper Company plans to produce packaging board, the chairman of directors (Mr J. C. Fletcher) announced tonight.

The board of directors had decided that the company, which has until now concentrated on newsprint production, should proceed with a development programme, the main feature of which would be the production of kraft liner board, he said. An initial volume of about 100,000 tons a year was planned, with production to commence in the early 19705. The expansion programme was based on export of the production, mainly to Australia, said Mr Fletcher. “At the contemplated startup date, the New ZealandAustralia Free Trade Agreement will have resulted in a substantial reduction of the Australian tariff on papers and boards from New Zealand. “Wood from New Zealand’s exotic forests is technically very well suited for liner board production, and the large-scale operation that is planned will ensure efficient manufacture of a first-class product,” he said. Timber resources for the ex. panded operation at Kawerau would come mainly from the purchase of an additional 20,000,000 cubic feet per annum from New Zealand State forests. Tasman was the successful tenderer for this supply.

which was advertised by the Forest Service last year. The cost of the expansion programme would be about £NZI3m to £NZISm.