PAPER MANUFACTURE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22540, 3 October 1936, Page 14

PAPER MANUFACTURE

PROJECT IN AUSTRALIA GOOD PROGRESS MADE "We arc potting close to the stage whore decisions will have to be made," said Sir Keith Murdoch, Australian newspaper proprietor, who passed through Auckland by the Mariposa yesterday, in discussing the project for the manufacture of newsprint and kraft. or brown, papers, in Tasmania, in which a number of Australian newspapers are interested. Low grade paper had not before been made from eucalyptus or any hardwood, which had a tough short fibre, and investigation of its possibilities had been a long and difficult task. So far £200.000 had been spent 011 the project. Plans had now been prepared for the mills and while in America Sir Keith examined the results, of the commercial tests conducted there with Australian eucalyptus. Everything was now ready for final consideration. It might be that some more technical work would be required in one or two places, but the outlook was hopeful. Sir Keith was not of the opinion that a shortage of newsprint was likely from what he saw overseas, as there appeared to be ample producing power to cope with a very large increase in consumption.