PAPER PULP.

Grey River Argus, 9 April 1927, Page 5

PAPER PULP.

WEST COAST PROJECT.

Syndicate Forming.

lor many years there have been conjectures on the West Coast as to when its facilities for the paper-pulping industry would be utilised, and it will be therefore news of unusual interest that a syndicate is at last formed to go anead with a project which expert opinion regards in a most favourable light. Recently at the Wardens Court here fights over the Crooked River, near Lake Brunner, for the generation ol electrical power, were ob-1 tained for a period of forty-two years, and it is with the object of using such power in the pulping of paper that the rights in question have been obtained. There has been formed a syndicate., with the primary object of securing rhe report of an expert on the prospects., and the syndicate has in this step the endorsement and encouragement of tnc Director of State Forestry, Mr Mclntosh Ellis, who has advised that an authoritative pronouncement on tho I suitability of West Coast timber is I the first logical step to be taken. 'Jhc syndicate, which is raising a noniinaJ capital of £lll,OOO solely for th-- pre liniinary work, has been in commuuicution with one uf the leading paper pulping experts in Australia, wjio has been engaged in establishing large papermaking plants in Victoria, including that at Fitzroy, Melbourne, which showed last year a profit of £94.000 This expert, who cannot for some months free himself from underta'-mgs there to visit here, is, however, very favourably impressed. already with what he has learned of the West Coast resources for the paper industry. As soon as the syndicate has raised about £2ooo—most of which has now been subscribed—the expert will be brought over to report. The syndicate has also obtained an option over roar thousand tons of slabs and similar made timber from sawmills on the West Coast. If the expert’s report is as favourable as it is confidently expected to prove, the next step will be the tlotaiioif of a company with substantial 'esq al, to establish a plant for pulping. It is pointed out that the supplies « f raw material are limitless, while the necessary power is available in the cheapest form at Crooked River. v;..ere the generating plant would be erected at a cost of £22,000, whereas the pulping mills would be located in or near Greymouth, owing to the need for tide-vvute • facilities to get rid of waste and other refuse. The horse-power available al the syndicate’s site is at least four thousand. The syndicate has already the backing of several West Coast sawmillers, and also timber merchants and other business men in Christchurch.

As regards the prospects, the syndicate has made fairly sure of these before issuing its prospectus, by sending to Switzerland for a test, in charge ot one of its Own members, specimens of West Coast timber. The Swiss experts found fed and white pine both adapted excellently for paper manufacture, including newsprint papetj a specimen of the latter yesterday exhibited locally comparing quite favourably with the Canadian newsprint now being imported so extensively into this countiyMoreover, the Forest Service advises that birch, which has a fibre rather short for newsprint, could be combm ed with the other timbers mentioned quite well. In addition, stouterAmds of paper can be turned out from io :al timbers of the first quality. Thus the making of paper boxes and other containers, as well as boards, would be a good branch for the industry here. The specimens of these made with local timber appear equal to anything on the market. It is, therefore, natural to expect West Coast millers and other business people and investors will interest themselves in the development of what may be destined to prove a great and profitable local industry. TM syndicate has representatives on the Coast at present, and it is undersi' several residents of this district ha e taken up scrip to an extent which proves they realise the full possibilities of the project. In any event, the securing of the expert report is worthy of every encouragement.