Grey River Argus SATURDAY, April 9, 1927. OUR WOOD PULP RESOURCES.

Grey River Argus, 9 April 1927, Page 4

Grey River Argus SATURDAY, April 9, 1927. OUR WOOD PULP RESOURCES.

However particular plans or proposals may deserve to be regarded in such a matter, there can be no room for differences of opinion as to the wisdom of ascertaining definitely and authoritatively the possibilities of the West (’oast for the wood-pulp or paper industry, for which reason the syndicate now financing the project lo obtain from -a recognised expert such a report is deserving of every encouragement. In such a thickly-wooded district as ours, it is only natural that the raw material available should long ago have given rise to the expectation of such an industry in the course of time. Just at. present. when the demand for timber itself is relatively restricted, the Dominion is importing yearly well over a million pounds worth of paper, exclusive of stationery, and the Canadian paper mills are reaping a. rich harvest from their sales of newsprint paper to the New Zealand press. At the same time, the very raw material required for a local industry of this value is nearly all going to waste at the sawmills. Tims, were such an. industry in existence, it would bring in a largely increased revenue to the millers as well as the Forestry Department, and provide a considerable amount of employment, while the country generally would be the gainer by a cheapci and more convenient supply of paper in many varieties, with th( eventual prospect of developing an export, trade to countries without so much raw material as then is here. It seems safe to say tha.l what Australian enterprise is able to do with pulping where there is only hardwood to pse can at least be equalled on the West Coast where soft wood remains in abundance. The modern pulping processes are'beeomijig adaptable foi most classes of timber, and the probability is that what alone if necessary for the manufacture o 4 paper on the, West Coast of good commercial ouality is capital suf ficient to provide the plant required. In modern times the demand for very few commodities has been expanding at such a phenomenal rate as that for paper, in consequence of the vast development of Ihe press in every country. Scandinavian paper mills are now sending their product all over

the world, and this industry is a very important adjunct to the trade based on the Baltic Forests. It goes without saying, of course, that the capital required for the pulping industry is such as to necessitate a large proportion being sought abroad, either in London or America, but that is not the immediate consideration which is demonstration of local resources as such that they will warrant the establishment of the industry. As it is stated by those interesting themselves in the matter that the immediate endeavour is to procure the advice of a leading expert in Australia, where paper making is now focussing the close attention of many industrialists, the proposal should prove of interest to millers and other West Coast people, many of whom may be disposed lo lend it. some measure of practical support. If the hopes of the promoters are realised, it is evident that any initial support extended will be very amply re- : compensed in a direct way, but the indirect gain to the whole district must prove far greater, for once there is an actual start with production, the results should mean an expansion of the industry similar to that now evident in Australia. Sooner or later the press of New Zealand will require a locally-produced paper supply and demand is already awaiting supply.