WOOD PULP

Southland Times, Issue 19396, 10 November 1924, Page 6

WOOD PULP

IMPORTATIONS TO MATAURA NEW ZEALAND MANUFACTURE POSSIBLE In view of the fact that negotiations are at present proceeding for an English syndicate to commence the wood pulp industry on the West Coast, the fact that 1,100 tons of wood pulp from overseas arrived at Mataura on IXiesday for the Mataura Paper mills, is of particular interest. A prominent local timber merchant stated to a Times reporter on Saturday that native timbers suitable for manufacture into wood pulp were to be found in various parts of the Dominion. The principal drawback was the heavy initial expenditure required to commence operations. The plant was a particularly expensive one, its cost running into six figures. There was plenty of-waste timber in Southland which could be utilised for this purpose. The State Forest Service has also interested itself in the possibilities of establishing the wood pulp industry in New Zealand. About 15 years ago samples of waste material were sent from Greymouth to Melbourne and to London. These were tested in the laboratories there and were found suitable for manufacture into wood-pulp. Should the negotiations with the English company be successful it will only be a matter of time when the wood-pulp industry, for which there is plenty of scope in New Zealand, will be au established fact; in which case, the Mataura mills would not require to go outside the Dominion for its supplies.