KAURI GUM

Evening Star, Issue 22047, 5 June 1935, Page 2

KAURI GUM

FUTURE OF THE INDUSTRY (Supplied and Released by the New Zealand Government.) WELLINGTON, June 4. The future of the kauri gum industry was investigated by the Prime Minister, Mr Forbes, who visiied the British Research Association’s, station, accompanied by Mr N. Wright, scientific liaison officer attached to the High Commissioner’s Office. The Prime Minister learned from the director, Dr Jordan, that kauri gum produced by a new solvent process undoubtedly has a future as a standardised material in the paint, varnish, lacquer, and linoleum industries, but owing to the increasing competition of synthetic products it was urgently necessary to establish commercial production as soon as possible. For the time being kauri gum had lost its position with the varnish and lacquer manufacturers. The new product had the advantage of being standardised and containing qualities lacking in the competitive materials, but it was essential that it must be produced at a competitive price. Mr Forbes also studied the work being carried/ out by the station for the improvement of paint and other materials used for protective coatings, and it was pointed out to him that, owing to the large amount of paint used by the Government departments it was advisable that they should maintain close contact with the developments which were taking place at the station.