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Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20103, 9 May 1935, Page 14

The value of our New Zealand fibre as a paper-making material was an acknowledged fact, said Mr A. Seifert, of Palmerston North, in the course of an interview. His firm had investigated the possibilities of the material away back in 1919, and since that time the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research has had carried out several exhaustive tests. One of the most important of these w r as undertaken in Washington, U.S.A., while others were undertaken in conjunction with an international firm who were suppliers of paper-making machinery. In all cases the reports spoke highly of our New Zealand fibre, and the general consensus of opinion given was that it was suitable for the manufacture of the highest grades of paper. The possibilities of its utilisation as a strengthener to eucalyptus pulp became known some years ago. Mr Seifert also mentioned that paper-making cannot be economically carried out on a small scale. A very large and costly plant is required to give the needed big output, and this requires accessibility to an important market. Australia can contemplate such an industry where New Zealand cannot.