The Paper Mill, by Lyn Harpham

The Honorable B. C. Robbins was a former Mayor of Tauranga when he was appointed as a Member of the Legislative Council, Parliament’s “upper house” of former days. He had the interests of Tauranga very much at heart.

In 1946 he happened to meet an old friend and fellow member of the Chamber of Commerce when both men were on holiday in Dunedin. Leaning across the dinner table at their hotel he said, “The exotic forests are getting near to maturity. A paper mill is to be built. I should like to see it in Tauranga, by the Wairoa River at Te Puna, close to the railway and deep water in the harbour.” (Mr Robbins had also served on the Harbour Board). He continued, “When you go back through Wellington, phone me and we can go to see the Minister of Works and one or two other people,” which they did.

Soon after, a blueprint map of possible future developments in Tauranga included a road from Tauriko, down the Waikareao Estuary to a huge reclamation at Sulphur Point, a harbour bridge, and cross-hatch lines indicated an industrial area near Te Puna railway station.

Tauranga men kept the mill in view. They were accustomed to mills. Numerous timber mills had pushed the bush back to create farms on the surrounding hills. There was even one in town at that time.

Early in the 1950’s confidential talks were taking place, at which a plan was put forward for the paper mill to be sited at Mount Maunganui. Water from the Kaituna River, looping westward between Te Puke and the sea, could be diverted to the mill through Welcome Bay. Waste water would go into the harbour.

Then suddenly, in October 1953 the facts became public when the Mayor, the Honorable W. E. Barnard O.B.E., announced through the Bay of Plenty Times that he was totally opposed to a huge paper mill being built near Mount Maunganui wharf. It would ruin the Mount as a tourist centre. Noise and fumes would create an intolerable nuisance for the whole area.

Borough councillors were aghast, for this had indeed been very confidential business. A meeting of the Council condemned the Mayor’s action and the Hon. W. E. Barnard, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, resigned.

But he was right — wasn’t he?