Paper Manufacture Project in Australia

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 236, 6 October 1936, Page 2

Paper Manufacture Project in Australia

GOOD PKOGBESS MADE “We are getting close to the stage where decisions will have to be made/’ said Sir Keith Murdoch, Australian newspaper proprietor, who passed through Auckland by the Mariposa, in discussing tho project for the manufacture of newsprint and kraft, or brown, papers, in Tasmania, in which a number of Australian newspapers are interested. Low grade paper had not before boen made from eucalyptus or any hardwood, which had a tough short fibre, and investigation of its possibilities had been a long and difficult task. So far £200,000 had been spent on tho project. Plans had now been prepared for tho mills and while in America Sir Keith examined tho results of tho commercial tests conducted thcro with Australian eucalyptus. Everything was now ready for final consideration. It might bo that some more technical work would bo required in one or two places, but the outlook was hopeful. Sir Keith was not of the opiniu that a shortage of newsprint was likely from what he saw overseas, as there appeared to be ample producing power to cope with a very large increase in consumption.