Kurukuru Grass
p. 19 · Read in the full issue
Progress of Plan to Make Paper Pulp
AN investigation of the value of Kuru kuru (Kunai) Grass, for use in the manufacture of paper pulp, is proceeding in Papua and New Guinea.
The present enterprise is the result of conclusions reached by the Commonwealth Hemp Corporation Ltd., an Australian concern, formed to produce sisal hemp in Papua. The corporation became interested in kurukuru grass, of which there are large quantities on the mainland of New Guinea. Research on samples was carried out by the British Imperial Institute, and by paper-making experts in England and Scotland: and it was proved that, from kurukuru, paper-pulp of very high quality can be made.
The only comparable raw material is the famous esparto grass, of Spain and Algeria.
Experts who customarily handle esparto grass have said that they can make high grade writing and printing paper from kurukuru pulp. It is said that, owing to the abundance of cheap labour and suit able water in New Guinea, pulp mills can be operated profitably there, and the kuru kuru pulp shipped to the world’s market.
In the case of esparto, owing to the com parative dryness of Spain and Algeria, the esparto grass itself has to be shipped, for pulping (mostly in Britain). It is argued that this should give kurukuru grass a transport advantage over esparto. It is said that from 2| to 3 tons of the raw material are used in making one ton of pulp.
Since the amendment of the Sago Ordin ance in Papua and the granting of exclu sive rights to apply for grass cutting licenses, gazetted in September, 1934, an exhaustive survey has been carried out both in Papua and New Guinea, to enable selection of areas most suitable for the production of the raw material on a com mercial basis and the establishment of mills. Title has recently been issued to Fibres Limited, in regard to one area of 40 square miles at Buna, in Papua, and applications of Commonwealth Hemp Cor poration Limited for finally selected areas are now under consideration in the North- Eastern Division.
In New Guinea preliminary investiga tions have been made regarding certain areas on the Markham River and at the present time an intensive investigation is being made in the Sepik Division. The New Guinea Land Ordinance has recently been amended to enable pending applica tions for suitable sites to be dealt with.
The parties involved in the operations are more or less interwoven and operating
in the form of developmental companies, comprising Britigh Australian Fibre Com pany, Limited, which is incorporated in the Federal Capital Territory (nominal capital, £750,000). Directors, P. R. Higgins (Chairman of Standard Portland Cement Company), B. R. White (Grazier), W. J.
Fullerton (solicitor), Lyell Sly, and E. J.
Frame (local Director, Papua). (2) Fibres Limited (nominal capital, £3O 000) incorporated in Papua and in which the above Company, British Austra lian Fibre Co., Ltd., is a large shareholder.
The Directors are Walter Dudden Mason, of Port Moresby (engineer), Dudley West garth, of Sydney (solicitor), and Gerald Mussen, of Melbourne (company director). (3) Commonwealth Hemp Corporation, Ltd. (nominal capital, £50,000, registered in New South Wales). Directors; E. R.
White (grazier), Harold H. White Mar tindale, N.S.W. (grazier). George S. Hol burn (company director), and Michaei Spiegel (company director). (4) There are also associated with the above Messrs. Raey Goodyear (Port Mores by), A. Banks (Sydney), and Johnston Tait (paper engineer), who was formerly associated with Bertrams, Ltd., of Edin burgh. , Australian investors, so far, have not been appealed to. The parties concerned are engaged in completing developmental work necessary, both in relation to the acquisition of areas and the completion of research, to satisfy the requirements of overseas capital, which will wholly be used for the establishment of this enterprise.
The latter, incidentally, involves very con siderable capital outlay, as one unit of plant, with a 20,000 tons output, involves a capital of £500,000. Subject to the satis factory completion of the developmental work it is proposed to extend the industry far beyond a single unit.