KAURI GUM INDUSTRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21855, 18 July 1934, Page 15

KAURI GUM INDUSTRY

Sir, —Mr. Anthony Petrie's letter published in your issue of Saturday last calls for strong criticism by those genuinely associated with the industry. I. have been a buyer and exporter of kauri gum for more than 30 years in a large way of business, and have not come into contact with Mr. Petrie in any of my numerous business transactions. I have no hesitation in saying that this gentleman is not regarded as an authority by the industry generally. So far as I am able to learn, his connection with the kauri gum trade has merely been in the nature of an occasional speculative venture. Mr. Petrie says that of £25,000,000 received from overseas for kauri gum, producers have received less than £15,000,000. The origin of these figures is not stated, and I very much doubt that they could be substantiated, but, granting that they are correct, does your correspondent imply that the "merchants" have made a net profit of £10,000,000, and over what period of time? Of course, this statement of figures is, to say the least, idle talk. What about such items as cartage and freight to Auckland, wharfages, storage, sorting, casing and bagging, cartage to wharf, insurance, overseas freight, rent, wages, etc.? That several gum merchants have recently died leaving large estates is apparently regarded by Mr. Petrie as absolute proof that these deceased gentlemen have consistently robbed the gum diggers over a period of years. It is a serious imputation and quite unjustified. I have personally known a number of gentlemen who have recently died, and who have at stages of their careers been engaged in the kauri gum business, and any who have become wealthy have done so through outside investments, and not through trading in kauri gum or exploiting the producers. Thirty Years a Merchant.