Tuatapere mill

Press, 16 September 1987, Page 18

Tuatapere mill

Sir, —I read with great interest the article on the recent acquisition by the Paynter Corporation of the larger of the two mills in Tuatapere (September 2). What information does Mr Paynter have to assert with such confidence that, and I quote, this purchase “secures ... a ready supply of beech timber”? In fact, the future of logging beech in Western Southland is very much in question by the Government which will be also considering the natural values of the area. This mill has laid off 50 permanent staff in the last fortnight. High transport costs for timber to ports for export, coupled with a general, over-supply of timber, remain to set the scene. Perhaps if it concentrated operations toward milling and processing of the exotics which are coming on line then the consequences of the governmental decision will be eased somewhat, particularly if the land does go under the Department of Conservation. — Yours, etc., - GABRIELLE O’CONNELL. September 5, 1987.

[Mr J. R. Paynter replies; “The Tuatapere Sawmill has a supply contract for beech logs from the Forestry Corporation. Current managed areas of forest designated for production have a sustainable yield oN67oocu m a year. Seven permanent jobs were lost in the last fortnight and no further redundancies are foreseen. While there is a general over-supply of exotic timber, quality hardwood is in steady demand. Paynter Timber satisfies this demand with imported species from South-East Asia and Pacific islands, supplemented by small volumes of locally milled beech.”]