Pulp Mill In Nelson “Still Has Priority”

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32166, 9 December 1969, Page 32

Pulp Mill In Nelson “Still Has Priority”

(JVeu> Zealand Press Association) ' i NELSON, December 8. - ' The establishment of a pulp mill in! Nelson still had top priority, the Deputy DirectorGeneral of Forests (Mr A. P. Thomson) said in a telephone interview, today.

He was asked to comment on the future of the pulp mill project in the light of Japanese interest in New Zealand softwoods. Mr Thomson said that as much as the Japanese firms would like to Continue to buy softwood, and logs, one or two firms had indicated they would be interested .in a joint Japanese-New Zealand paper and newsprint plant The target date for the pulp mill had been the mid-19705! but this was affected by the windtbrown logs at Golden Downs.

Mr Thomson said it would be difficult to set a date now. It would .-depend on how quickly resources' in Nelson could be built up. New Zealand eventually could lead as the supplier of softwoods. At present British

Columbia and the United States ! were.the 7 biggest’ suppliers. •, Mr Thomson, who has. just returned 'from a study trip to Japan and 'Taiwan, said that the Japanese firms did not ex, pect these supplies to last forever.-’ The tlnited! States wbjild want to use more herself, whiiethe costs of milling the virgin- 1 forests ,’ih -British Columbia would increase.

New Zealand was one of the few- places which could grow and supply large quantities of softwoods. Asked about the possibility of a second Japanese ship for wood chips from Nelson, he said he was unable to commeht • at this stage, having just returned to'New Zealand. But it was more likely that a second ship would deal with hardwood chips.