PAPER MILLS PROJECT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22517, 7 September 1936, Page 11

PAPER MILLS PROJECT

GENERAL INVESTIGATION SUPPORT BY THE COMPANY [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION'] ROTORUA, Saturday Interviewed regarding the recent discussions in the House of Representatives concerning the Whakatane Paper Mills Water Rights Empowering Bill, the secretary of the company, Mr. E. B. Brown, said naturally the directors were disappointed with the delay in getting the measure through the House and stated that this feeling would be shared by thousands of shareholders throughout New Zealand and Australia. While, however, the company was pleased with the attitude of the Government it regretted that certain statements grossly misrepresenting the company in many ways had been made in the Houso by members without a full knowledge of the facts.. In view of the large amount of capital involved the need for a general investigation of the best means of using New Zealand's exotic forests would be admitted by every reasonable person with the interests of the country at heart and the Government would have the co-operation of the Whakatane company in any investigation it undertook. The company was quite prepared to place all the information at its disposal before the Government and was pleased to have an assurance that, provided the Government was satisfied with the Whakatane project, every assistance would be given the company to get into production. Mr. Brown said the company had already purchased equipment valued at £150,000 abroad, while further equipment valued at approximately £25,000 would be made in New Zealand. In addition, there was the work and expenditure involved in erecting the mill at Whakatane. It was anticipated that, as soon as the managing director, Mr. H. A. Horrocks, returned from abroad in six weeks' time and provided the project was not further held up, a start would be made upon the erection of the mill. The mill could operate in 12 months' time and would employ about 200 people.