PAPER PULP.

Waikato Times, Volume 114, Issue 19012, 1 August 1933, Page 3

PAPER PULP.

TASMANIAN INDUSTRYIMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS. „ V \ (Empire Press Union.) HOBART, July 19. Since the passage of the legislation granting concessions over large areas of heavily-timbered country in the Florentine Valley,-in Southern Tasmania, to a syndicate which intends to undertake the manufacture of paper pulp, a large amount of preliminary basic work has been carried put- Many difficulties had to be 'Overcome, and, in spite of the vast amount of technical work, the company is convinced that a further experimental programme at an estimated cost of £50,000 must be undertaken. During the last two years there have been important developments In the design of mechanical pulping machinery. New machines of greater efficiency have been developed for use with soft woods, but it cannot be said with any certainty that they would be suitable for Use with the Tasmanian hardwoods. A shipment of logs is, therefore, to be sent to Europe for making comparative tests to determine which type of plant should be purchased. Tentative arrangements have been made for the •tests to take place in Sweden and Switzerland. They may possibly be followed’ by a paper-making test in Europe, under actual milling conditions. , . In addition to the work In the Florentine Valley areas the strong likelihood of the reopening of the plant at Kei’inandie, in another part oi Southern Tasmania, has received prominence. The 1 Kermandie plant was opened three or four years ago by another company interested in the production of paper pulp, and, although the early experiments were promising, the company was unable to •obtain the necessary capital to put the •scheme into operation. Experiments have been continued, and it is now stated that the organisations interested in launching the industry in Tasmania are likely to amalgamate.