EXPORT BAN ON UNCUT GREENSTONE BOULDERS

Evening Star, Issue 26087, 29 April 1947, Page 4

EXPORT BAN ON UNCUT GREENSTONE BOULDERS

Because of the rapidly-diminishing quantity of New Zealand greenstone, a ban on the export of the stone in its natural state, or in partly or whollyprocessed condition-, has been imposed by the Customs Department. Manufactured articles are specifically exempted front/:the order', so that the Dominion’s grOwiug export trade: will, be fostered. The prohibition lias been notified in the ‘ Gazette ’ as a Customs Export Prohibition Order, 1947, Greenstone, "which is a member of the jade family, occurs only in. alluvial deposits .between about Greymouth and Hokitika. The stone is particularly good in this area, and, in fact, cannot be rivalled in the world. A pre-.war export trade for the uncut boulders absorbed a large part of New Zealand’s supply, with Germany by far the best customer, and even Japan appearing in the list.

Lapidaries in overseas countries eagerly sought the New Zealand pro-; duct, the “ pouuauiu ” of the Maori,: and worked it up into various forms of jewellery. German Workers were not . above imitating the Maori craftsman; and greeustone tikis made in that country have, often been sold as a New Zealand product. The practice was severely criticised, for the finishing touches were made with a varnish, which flaked and took scratches. New Zealand lapidaries emulated their Maori teachers, and polished the article until the surface was perfect. Keeneyed American servicemen visiting New Zealand were also, it is stated, responsible for taking a. fairly large amount of uncut stones to the United States. BIG PRICE RISE. The increasing difficulty in obtaining supplies of the deep green, semi-trans-parent mineral, is reflected in the much higher price expected by the West Coast seekers, most of whom are miners. About 1900 Ihe stone was worth between 6d and 1s 6d a pound, depending on whether the boulder had been cut to show its relative purity. To-day the lapidary worker must pay 10s a pound. The boulder now costs between £5 and £IOO, depending on its weight, and if the purchaser cannot make an arrangement for the stone to be split, so that the colour and degree of purity can be seen, he might be buying a “ pig in a poke.” The principal greenstone cutter ,in New Zealand is a Dunedin concern, New Zealand Greenstone Lapidaries, which supplies its products not only to customers all over the world, but also to Maoris in the Dominion. There are other greenstone workers, however, and\ it is understood that some ex-service-men in the north 'have become interested in the industry.