§ 66 and 67. Brigadier Medlicottasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what was the total volume and the dollar cost per ton of imports from North America in 1947 of mechanical pulp, of unbleached sulphite pulp, and of pulpwood, respectively, used for the manufacture of newsprint in this country; and what is the estimated volume and dollar cost per ton of imports of the same raw materials in 1948 and 1949, respectively;
(2) what is the dollar cost of a ton of newsprint made in this country either from mechanical pulp or from pulpwood imported from North America, as compared with the dollar cost of a ton of Canadian newsprint imported under the Newsprint Supply Company's contracts.
§ Mr. BottomleyWoodpulp for paper making is drawn mainly from European countries and it is impossible to say how 29W much of the North American and European supplies, respectively, are used in newsprint as distinct from other kinds of paper. Sulphite pulp as well as mechanical pulp is used in newsprint production and if only North American pulps were used for this purpose the dollar cost would be about 88 dollars a ton as against 95 dollars 60 cents (excluding certain seasonal charges) for newsprint. If pulpwood were used in place of imported mechanical pulp, the dollar cost would be reduced to about 44 dollars. I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT figures of the imports of mechanical pulp, sulphite pulp and pulpwood from all sources and their average f.o.b. cost for 1947, together with estimated figures for 1948, showing the quantities separately for North America. I am, however, at present unable to estimate the imports for 1949.
Following are the figures:
1947. Total Imports. Mechanical pulp 278,500 tons (of which 45,000 tons was North American). average cost £19 a ton. Strong Sulphite 155,000 tons (of which 42,500 tons was North American). average cost £34 10s.0d a ton. Pulpwood 29,800 e.c.f. (all North American). average cost £11 16s. 0d. per e.c.f.
1948. Estimated total Imports. Mechanical pulp 330,000 tons (of which 38,000 tons is North American). estimated average cost £22 a ton. Strong Sulphite 160,000 tons (of which 64,500 tons is North American). average cost £38 a ton. Pulpwood Nil.