PURE KAURI GUM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21845, 6 July 1934, Page 12

PURE KAURI GUM

NEW PROCESS DEVISED

REVIVING THE INDUSTRY IMPROVED DEMAND LIKELY THE PLANT AT HENDERSON By means of a scientific process, perfected by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, kauri gum can be made absolutely pure and completely uniform. Samples of gum purified at a plant at Henderson were furnished to manufacturers in England through tho New Zealai/d High Commissioner's office, as well as to manufacturers in America and elsewhere, and tests of these samples gave most encouraging results, justifying anticipation that the kauri gum industry will be revived and re-established on the world's market.

Tests of the samples by manufacturers established the fact that when lower grades of kauri gum were treated by this process, they were found to be suitable for ducos and varnishes. In its crude state, only gum of high and very expensivo grades is suitable. New York Demand This new process of purification should enable kauri, gum to competo successfully with synthetic gums =on the world's market, and it will bo readily realised what an unlimited market there is when one considers tho fact that a certain New York manufacturing firm alone uses between 5000 and 6000 tons of synthetic gums a year. The total production of kauri gum for the last few years has been about 3000 tons a year, enough only to supply tho needs of this American firm for about six months.

Further improvements to the plant at Henderson were some whilo ago found to be necessary and are now nearing completion. Within the next five or six weeks it is anticipated that tlie plant will begin to produce two tons of purified gum a day. The aim is gradually to increase operations as market requirements develop, until the output reaches 40 tons a day. It is hoped that eventually employment for some 2000 workers will be provided. A new mechanical method of production of kauri gum has been evolved and put into operation at Tomarata, near Wellsford, and by this means kauri gum deposits are dug very efficiently and economically from deep swamps. These deposits are very rich, but too deep for man power, and they can only be worked successfully by machinery. Extent of the Deposits

By the mechanical process the land is left level and in a perfect state for farming, whereas, by the old method, the land is ruined by potholes and rendered desolate. The remaining kauri gum deposits in New Zealand fields have been estimated by experts to approximate about 750, 00# tons. The perfecters of the mechanical method of production at Tomarata are carrying on the operations at the Henderson plant, and they have just opened two large kauri gum fields in the Far North, one at Rotoroa, near Eaitaia, comprising 1661 acres, and the other some 15 miles further north, at Kaimaumau, consisting of 700 acres. They have already expended in all branches of this work some £50,000. The deputy-chairman of the Unemployment Board, Mr. W. Bromley, is expected to arrive at Auckland on Monday to confer with the interested parties regarding kauri gum activity in North Auckland.