Timbers. 



288 



[May 1007. 



of the pulp on the market now as soda pulp in reality made under the sulphate 

 process, which consists of a liquor containing sodium sulphate, sulphite, carbonate, 

 caustic, which hefore burning to ash is fortified by the addition of sulphate of soda 

 the sulphate being reduced to sulphite during the process of recovery. This process 

 is cheap, but the nauseating gases evolved during the process at one time made it a 

 difficult matter, except in out-of-the-way districts. 



Methods in the Mill Revolutionised. 



I think, I might point out that the introduction of wood pulp has had 

 had a considerable effect upon the way that mills are constructed nowadays in this 

 country. Before the introduction of wood the raw materials were treated from 

 beginning to end in the mill ; now a mill buys wood pulp, which is put direct into the 

 beaters, all the preliminary processes being obviated (except if bleached). 



As to the permanency of wood papers, there is still difference of opinion. 

 Mr. Clayton Beadle tells me he would not like to recommend even the very best 

 bleached wood in paper required to be of an absolutely lasting character, but would 

 give the preference to mixtures of cotton and linen. But it should be remembered 

 that every year sees improvements in the treatment of wood, resulting in a more 

 lasting and durable fibre. In course of time we may be compelled to alter our views. 



The complete statistics bearing on the subject are much too lengthy and 

 complicated to attempt to read in the limited time at my disposal. They will be 

 found in the Appendix. I may, however, trouble you with one or two figures :— 



In 1903, we imported into Great Britain 211,823 tons of chemical diy pulp, of 

 the stated value of £1,812,082. This came chiefly from Sweden and Norway, and 

 only 1,350 tons were sent to us from British Possessions. Of chemical wet pulp we 

 introduced, in 1903. 21,279 tons almost entirely from Sweden and Norway, and value 

 was £82,012. In the same year we imported mechanical dry, 8,268 tons, of the value 

 of £30,192 ; and of mechanical wet, we imported, in 1903, 330,788 tons, of the value of 

 £752,297. 



It is worth noting that Canada supplies us with a by no means insignificant 

 portion of the mechanical wet pulp. 



In 1901, Canada sent us 48,551 tons, and in 1903, Canada supplied us with 

 71,661 tons of the value of £151,918. In this class of pulp, Sweden, in 1903, sent the 

 pulp of the value of, roughly, £101,000 ; but Norway received £490,919 for the 

 mechanical wet wood pulp sent to us for that year. 



According to official figures, British paper makers paid :— In 1903, £1,612,082 

 for chemical dry pulp ; £82,012 for chemical wet ; £30,192 for chemical dry, and 

 £752,397 for mechanical wet, being a total of £2,506,583. 



I should be very sorry indeed to trespass on any contentious ground or to 

 encroach on political subjects, but without taking any side in the matter, I may say 

 that in connection with the fiscal controversy, iii the event of a duty being put upon 

 manufactured articles coming into this country, it may be somewhat difficult to 

 classify certain kinds of wood pulp in this connection. It is a rather debateable 

 point as to whether certain classes of wood pulp are manufactured articles or not, or 

 to what extent it may be termed "raw material." I believe Mr, Chamberlain is 

 credited with having been good enough to look upon wood pulp as raw material, 

 but 1 do not think that this is exactly a subject which is likely to cause paper makers 

 or pulp producers many sleepless nights in the immediate future, although the time 

 may come when the question will have to be considered from the point of view to 

 Which I have alluded. 



