MANUFACTURE OF PAPER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20721, 14 November 1930, Page 7

MANUFACTURE OF PAPER.

I USE OF NEW ZEALAND FLAX. UNPROFITABLE "AT PRESENT. The tests recently carried out by tho United States Bureau of Standards to determine tho suitability of New Zealand flax for paper-making are substantially similar to tests mado on New Zealand flax 17 or 18 years ago. Before tho war samples r.f New Zealand flax were sent to Edinburgh to be mado into fine writing paper at a Scottish mill. Tho resultant product was liighly praised by exptfrts and (hero were hopes that an important industry would grow up in the Dominion for the manufacture of high-grade paper on a commercial scale. Favourable economic conditions prevailed just after the war for establishing an industry fed with local raw materials. Tho price of imported wood pulp was so great that manufacturers were turning to the handiest substitutes. One company actually prepared plans for tho planting of 10,000 acres in New Zealand flax as an adjunct to its mill, but the scheme had to be. abnnduned when the financial depression that set in ,after 1921 reduced the price of wood pulp. Tt then became profitable to import wood pulp from Canada and other countries and manufacture it into paper in Now Zealand. Wood pulp is now half the price it was in 1920 and tho chance of New Zealand flax being utilised commercially is state] by those engaged in the industry to bo extremely remote. Wrapping paper and paper for bagmaking was made from Now Zealand fla:c by Now Zealand Paper Mills, Ltd., at its Mataura mills just after the war. It was an excellent, paper and was wonderfully strong, as can be, imagined when it is remembered that flax is tho basis of linen, but the competition from wood pulp made the use of flax unprofitable. Tho fact that tho United States Bureau of Standards had to use 10 per cent, of caustic soda in the cooking process to produce a bag and wrapping paper pulp from flax is considered to show conclusively that commercial advantage cannot bo taken of, the experiments at presont. The percentage is said by exports to bo too high for the profitable sale of cheapgrade paper. GOLD FROM CANADA. NEW RECORD ESTABLISHED. NEARLY £8,000,000 LAST YEAR. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] VANCOUVER. Oct. 15. Canada's ! '&old production again established a new record in 1929, while in the first half of 1930 a new high liguro for that period was also recorded. Tho 1929 production was 1,928,3080/.. fine, valued at £7,972.300,' compared with 1.890,592 oz. fiiio, valued at £7,816,000 in 1928. This Dominion is now giving tho United States a close run for second position among tho gold producing countries of tho.Tj'orld. Ontario was the largest producer of the provinces, with British Columbia second and Quebec third. "Canada has been a gold-producing l country for over 70 years," says the bulletin. "Tho chief field in tho early days was in Bijtish Columbia when alluvial gold was discovered along tho Thompson in the late 'so's of tho last century. The famous Eraser gold rufjli took place in 1858. The outstanding Canadian goldfield at tho close of the last century was tho Yukon, whoro ono of the greatest gold rushes in history took place in tho last few years of that era. The large-scale development of tho industry in Northern Ontario dates from 1912, when the first pernmnonfc camp was estab. lished in the Porcupine area. Tho first gold discovery in the ICirkland Lake field was in 1911 on a claim now forming part of tho Wright-Hargreaves mine. "Over one-half of the gold now being producod comes from South Africa. The United Statos ranks second with 10.9 por cent, of the total output, while Canada is third with 9.6 per cent. Tho latest figures availablo in this connection aro for 1928, when the output of tho Union of South Africa was 10,354,264 fine ounces; that of tho United States, 2,144,720, and that of Canada 1,890,592 fine ounces. In tho eight years preceding tho date just mentionod there had been a decline of over 300,0000z. in tho production of tho United States, while tho production of Canada had increased by more than 1,000,000 ox." CHICAGO WHEAT MARKET. CHICAGO. Nov. 12. Wheat.—-December. 72 1-8 cents por bushel; March, 74 5-8 cents,; May, 76J cents j July, 77 3-8 cents.