THE SHORTAGE OF PAPER.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXII, Issue LXXII, 9 July 1917, Page 5

THE SHORTAGE OF PAPER.

A SERIOUS OUTLOOK

Mr TV. B. Carmichael, managing (I"ector of Messrs Carmichael and Co.. of Sydney, the suppliers of paper tothe principal New Zealand newspapers has just returned from the United fetates and Canada, after a visit lasting over four months. He has made, tour trips there since the war broke out. Mr Carmichael's visit to America, was principally with the object of getting shipping space for supplies of news print paper to New Zealand and Australian newspaper proprietaries. He says (the Otago Daily Times reports) that the shipping situation in* the united States and Canada is mostcritical at present, so far as the Dominion and Australia are concerned, and that it is likely to become much worse within the* ensuing twelve months. The United States Government has commandeered the whole of its shipping, and has also commandeered the whole of its steel, and it is now doubtful if a shipment of any quantity of any class of goods can' be got nvrny to the colonies from the United States within the next few months, as thft whole of the United States ships will be required to, transport troops and to carry foodstuffs to Europe. The whole of the cargo steamers working from the Pacific coast of the States am} Canada have been commandeered., with one exception. This exception was the Waitotara. which ha« h:st boon destroyed at sea by fire (Mr Carmichael lost 1800 tons of news print paper on this steamer), consequently there are now no ca'-go boats coMinj? to the colonies from Vancouver, where? iormerly there were four steamers n> lining a regular service. Certain!<• thi> United States and the Canadian' Governments -ire pushing on- with the building of new ship* with the .greatest expedition, but "these, with" the view of counteracting the loss by thesinkings of the U-boats, will 1 )P required t« carry foodstuffs, etc.. not only +o Hreat Britain, but to Franco ar,'l '-fMFSi^. i "This all means." onrninned Mr Carmichael. "the partial isolation of N« w Zealand and Australia, and it is difficult to see where supplies of tt>ws print paner are to be obtained. Tl'-at is not to say that there is not efm paper available; it is available, huh there are no bottoms to carry it/*