KAURI GUM

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 116, 19 May 1932, Page 8

KAURI GUM

LANGUISHED INDUSTRY “The kauri gum industry produced an export valued at £BOO,UUO in 1914. At present it is in serious danger ol extinction, and probably 1500 gum diggers are idle,” states the report oi the chairman of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. ‘‘The reason for this rapid decline, ’ ’ the report goes on to say, “is the introduction of stndardised nitre cellulose lacquers and the introduction of varnish made from tung oil and resin and the competition of low-priced Congo copals •in the linoleum industry. The primary cause is the fact that kauri gum is not a standard product, and whereas the manufacturers of synthetic lacquers service their product by given formulae to users with instructions, etc., the same service is not possible with the highly-diversified lots of kauri gum which reach the American and English markets. “The New York importers have for some time been advocating the necessity of research into our own kauri gum so as to improve the product, and recently in the Dominion Laboratory solvent extraction methods have been worked out for purifying low-grade gums and for producing a lighter colour without essentially altering the final product. Thus was obtained a material essentially suitable for <the varnish and lacquer trade and at a cheaper price than the synthetic lacquer and for many purposes more suitable. Two factories are commencing operations shortly in the Auckland district, but considerable work is still necessary on the production of the gum so as to give some reliable information to users and promote its use.”

The report adds that if any rem nants of the former large kauri gum industry are to be saved instant action is necessary.