KAURI GUM INDUSTRY.

Northland Age, Volume 1, Issue 48, 13 November 1929, Page 7

KAURI GUM INDUSTRY.

PAST YEAR REVIEWED, VALUE OF EXPORTS DECREASES. Tabled in the House of Representatives on the sth inst., the annual report on the kauri gum industry stated that in the early part of the year a good deal of the stocks accumulated by dealers and others since the boom year of 1920, was still unsold. During the year, however, most of the diggers gradually left the fields owing to the low prices obtainable for gum, and, with the lower production, the remaining private accumulations were mostly worked off. The Government stocks came into demand and could be sold without disturbing the market or unduly interfering with current production.

A number of large parcels of Government gum of gradings in short supply had been disposed of, and delivery was being taken as desired by the buyers within twelve months from the date of purchase. It was hoped that by the end of the current year the whole of the Government stocks of gum would gradually have been disposed of and delivery taken. For the year ended March last the export of gum amounted to 4566 tons, of a value of £221,223, against 4351 tons, of a value of £267,559 in the previous year. Of the amount exported last year, 2337 tons went to the United States and 1544 tons to Great Britain.