FOR MANUFACTURE OF CARDBOARD PRODUCTS.

Otaki Mail, 31 March 1939, Page 4

FOR MANUFACTURE OF CARDBOARD PRODUCTS.

NEW ADDITION TO PLANT AT WHAKATANE ROTO 11UA, Last Night. The culminating point of many months of construction and carelul planning was readied to-day when the turning of a button by Air. G. Hultquist, ALP., set in motion the Whakatane Paper Mills’ new pulping mill. The Whakatane plant is one of the most extensive and up-to-date in the southern hemisphere and when in full operation will employ 150 men, with a wage bill of over £:00 a week. The mill is designed mainly to produce cardboard products. The main production unit is over 100 yards long and is of Swedish manufacture, while the steam-driven power plant generates sufficient power to supply the needs of the whole Bay of Plenty. It drives two giant dynamos of British manufacture and these will suppv the whole power for the extensive undertaking. The plant has been installed by Swedish and British experts and a number of most highly specialised processes are being directed by Canadian operatives skilled in this class ot work. The raw material consists of waste paper, of which very large supplies are being obtained, and pinus insignis timber which is being secured from extensive plantations owned by the company on Alatakana Island, in Tauranga Harbour. These trees are 12 years old and it is estimated that the plantations on Alatakana will supply the mill for a period of five years, at the end ox which time further plantations owned bv the company at Matahir.a will be ready for cutting. Performing the official opening ceremony, Mr. Hultquist paid a tribute to the courage and enterprise of the company and particularly to its managing director, Air. H. Horroeks, in promoting so extensive an undertaking. The company would be employing New Zealand labour and using New Zealand materia) for the production of a commodity which was at present being imported into the country. The eompanv was carrying out the Government 's exhortation to expand New Zealand industry. It looked forward to the day when it would supply not only the whole of the Few Zealand market but also a iarge proportion of the Australian market as well.