N.Z.F.P. Sees Very High Exports

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32127, 24 October 1969, Page 14

N.Z.F.P. Sees Very High Exports

(N.Z. Press Association) i AUCKLAND. Oct. 23. Exports by N.Z. Forest Products, Ltd, will jump dramatically in 1973-74 on completion of the company’s pulp and paper mill expansion, the Kinleith resident director (Mr J. T. Currie) said last evening. Addressing a gathering of local body leaders and businessmen convened by the Mayor (Mr R. A. Owens), Mr Currie was substituting for the company’s manager-direc-tor (Mr R. H. Smythe), who was unable to attend because of illness. “During the year to March 31, we used more than 1.6 m tons of logs. By 1979 we esti-

mate we shall need 3.5 m tons of logs a year to meet the increased demand for our products.”

The ground had already been prepared to marke* the output the moment the machines began production. “Contracts for a significant part of our increased production have been concluded to sell pulp and paper in Australia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, and 20 other countries,” he said. “With a growing world demand for pulp, paper, timber, logs, wallboards, and turpentine, we expect that the value of the company’s exports will continue to expand at a high rate this year and jump dramatically in the 1973-74 financial year after our pulp and paper mill extension.” Inherent in the company’s planning was the provision of adequate forest resources

through to and beyond the! turn of the century to meet; the growing raw material de-i mands, he said.

The company was re-estab-lishing cut-over areas in addition at the rate of 7500 acres a year to provide for the increase in its demand for logs. Mr Currie said he expected log and timber exports would stabilise over the coming five years, but the doubling of pulp and paper production would be mainly for export. “You will, therefore, need to think in terms of an extra 100,000 tons of pulp and an extra 100,000 tons oi paper from Kinleith by 1973-74.

“Other commodities, such as paperboard, shou'' also increase substantially," he said.

Leyland. Leyland Invest, ments, Ltd’s 1969 dividend will be 9.5 per cent Hast year 9 per cent), payable December 8: ex November 24.