MATAURA PAPER MILLS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 87, 11 April 1924, Page 6

MATAURA PAPER MILLS

OPENED BY MR. MASSEY

IMPORTANCE OF SECONDARY

INDUSTRIES.

[II TELEGRAPH _SPECIAL 10 IBS POST.)

DUNEDEN, This Day.

The reconstructed paper mills, at I|s 7 taura were officially opened by the Prime Minister. Mr. Somerville, director, stated that the present industry was started many years ago, and. • after / passing through many vicissitudes was now ap? prpaching the ideal set up by the directors. Th,ey were now seeing the vision of the directors being completed, which showed the extent of their. objective. They aimed at beuig able to supply the wants of the Dominion in the near future with paper that would be equal to anything manufactured elsewhere. The cost of the present^building and,plant yias approximately £145,000, while the land, building, plant, etc., owned by the company in Mataura. Rivei'head, and Woodhaugh were worth no less than £250,000.: The" vision of-the directors of thisessen^ tial industry was not only to nieet the demands of the country, but" to meet" them at a figure which would conrqjirfi with foreign competitipn. *.' r Tlie Prijne Minister, said there was no reason why New Zealand ! should not manufacture aU-the , pappr Tpquired for the Dominion within the, Dominion* Last year; paper was used in New Zealand to the value of £870,543. That was a largp sum pi mpnpy, and the amount of paper used was growing' every year' When he approached the mills he had no idea that they were such a liuce concern. ' ' ''..'. . ; "Talking of paper mills naturally leads' to other secondary industries," continued Mr, Massey,-''and there is a great increase in our?secondary industries, and rightly so:" He said there were many articles which could be manufactured in New Zealand- for New Zealand besi<ie» paper. The primary products were increasing, and there was no reason why the primary and secondary industries working together could not keep £100 - 000 in the, country and stop it from goring out. The paper mills was one of many industries located at Mataur.a, and he was informed that there was a project on foot to start-a woollen mill'also.. The woollen mill would assist to keep mqney in. New Zealand and provide employment fop New Zealand; people.