KAURI GUM INDUSTRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21278, 3 September 1932, Page 12

KAURI GUM INDUSTRY

ADVANCE IN PRICES MARKED DROP IN PRODUCTION The unusually small quantities of kauri gum coming forward have resulted in an advance in prices. Last month a total of only 43 tons "was received into store by Auckland brokers, this figure being less than one-third of the total for any previous month in the past four years. It represents decreases of 110 and 208 on the quantities for July this year and August, 1931, respectively. The reason for the phenomenal drop is probably the fact that conditions in the industry have been so dull this year that most of the gumdiggers have abandoned the fields, and production has virtually ceased. There is an impro\ r ed demand for gum held in store, however, especially for the lower grades, used for making linoleum. Until about two months ago there were practically no sales of gum and prices were only nominal. Since then small orders have been received and a considerably brighter tone has developed. Values at present range from £IBO a ton for first quality rescraped white gum to £8 for poor black cI/js. Good swamp white gum is realising £2O to £25, and ordinary black gum of good colour about the same. Ordinary white, No. 2, is selling at £56 to £7O/

In spite of the increased values, however, they are not yet considered sufficient to warrant the return of diggers to the fields, but further activity is to lie expected shortly if the improvement in conditions continues. Meanwhile present stocks are slowly being; exhausted' and higher prices should result. The following table shows the amounts of gum received into store for the first eight months of this year and of the past three years:— Tons Tons Tons Tons 1932 1931 1030 I<&9 January . . 194 158 371 290 February . . 277 2fU 112 275 March . . 22J 3.«6 563 210 April .. .. 405 30!) 411 339 Mnv . . . . 245 304 374 426 .Tune . . . . 144 263 247 285 July . . . . 153 244 309 340 August .. 43 1251 104 317 Totals ..1,685 2.286 2,911 2.521