KAURI GUM INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20365, 20 September 1929, Page 9

KAURI GUM INDUSTRY.

EXPORT TRADE IN JULY*

INCREASE IN THE QUANTITY.

An increase in the quantity of kauri gum exported from New Zealand last Jnly, compared with the "tiW. months, is shown in the figured' issued by the Customs Department,.. jVLiotal of 494 tons was exported, the quantities for June and May being 449 ton's and 288 tons respectively. The average price obtained was £49.08 a ton,'as compared with £56 and £SB in the • preceding months. The price was stated by the Kauri Gum Control Board -yesterday to be satisfactory, the decrease being due to a largo shipment of poorer, -qualities! of gum. The following table gives the tonnage and value of tho shipments to the various countries and tho average prices realised last July:— , - .. —■ ■ Ay«e. Tone. United Kingdom .. 136 7,271 63.43 Canada. , via L. Coast -17 830 48.82 Belgium .. •• 30 635 ■ -121: IS Germany • . • • 12 423 35.2? U 8.A., via E. Coast 298 15,033 j'50.43 U.S.A., via W. Coast 1 ', 43. ..48 Totals, .. ... 434 £24;246 . £49,0:3

CONTROL BOARD MEETING.

QUESTION OF RESERVATIONS.

The monthly meeting of "the Kauri Gum Control Board was held on Wednesday and yesterday, the chairman, Mr. M. H, Wynyaid, presiding.---Nine applications foi the withdrawal of reservations on areas of gum lands were referred to the board by the Lands Department. Three were approved and six were held in abeyance until ah inspection of the reserves could be made and a report presented. One buyer's licence was granted. , ■

OPERATIONS AT PENEOBE.

AN IMPROVED PRODUCT.

An inspection of tbe" "damp kauri 'gum cleaning plant at Penrose' w.as made by the members of the Kauri Giuri''Control Board this week. . It stated that . special tests of the different classes of gum_were being made. Important experiements were being conducted in regard 'to the possibility of cleaning the gum direct from the . RUtadiggers' washing machines with a view to eliminating delay, expense and loss"'in the drying and winnowing" of the .-poorer qualities. . The plant was working'- satisfactorily and its operations had resulted in an improved product! A trial" sample 1 of the cleaned product was being sent to Australia in order to-test its suitability for the manufacture of special, lacquer textures. " The board "considered that there was likely to be a -large opening for this product of the cleaning plant;