NEWSPRINT- MANUFACTURE

Evening Star, Issue 18139, 1 December 1922, Page 8

NEWSPRINT- MANUFACTURE

DOMINION COULD NOT COMPETE. CANADIAN ADVANTAGES, [Special io the ‘ Star.'] CHRISTCHURCH, November 3d. Some interesting observations on his trip to Great Britain, Canada, and the United States were made to a reporter by Mr F. E. Jones, of W. E. Simms and Co., Ltd., paper merchants, who has returned to Christchurch after an absence of eight months. In the United* States Mr Jones found that thore was a decided improvement in business, and a much better tone was prevailing. Tho general market seemed to have Men considerably to tho public, and tho feeling was buoyant and hopeful for the future. The same remarks applied almost equally to Canada. The bulk of the* paper trade in the State© Mr Jones found to bo in flourishing condition. Owing to the large amount of advertising that was being done in newspapers and other publications in connection with the general trade revival, the demand for newsprint had resulted in prices advancing. Asked if ho thought there was any possibility of newsprint being manufactured in New Zealand on a commercial basis, Mr Jones said be was afraid the dominion, with its present native timber, could never compete with the Canadian or Scandinavian mills. In these countries there were vast areas of timber districts growing spruce, with large quantities to the acre. The treee were straight-stemmed and of even dimensions, in consequence of which it was quite a simple and inexpensive matter to cut the timber and ham it to the natural waterways, which pave easy access to the mills. In New Zealand such timbers as were suitable for the purpose were eparselv distributed among other and more valuable timber® used tor milling purposes. To make the paper industry payable it would bo necessary to plant largo areas of suitable timber on tho lines of what had been done in Rotorua district. Even then if. was questionable if the excuse of planting would not be ton great to make the' proposition a payable one as (against trees that were plained by Nature close to waterways, and could thus bo floated down to the mills with 1:11b expense.