The NCT Story

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THE SEVENTIES • a central timber co-operative established

I n the late sixties a rift involving timber pricing had developed in the South African Timber Growers Association between processors and private timber growers. The late Mr Craig Anderson, Chairman of SATGA, had declared that in the future, private growers would have to protect and promote their interests through their respective co-operatives. NCT decided to pursue the idea of a central co-operative and discussions with Transvaal Wattle Growers (TWK) followed. Coincidentally, about this time Natalse Landbou Koöperasie Beperk (NLK) announced that it would be forming a separate division within its ranks to service its members who grew timber in Northern Natal. After successful talks between the three interested primary co operatives, it was agreed to form a Central Timber Co-operative to cater for private growers’ needs. In the meantime, Messrs

Craig Anderson and Volly van Breda had initiated negotiations with a Japanese buyer, Sumitomo Shoji Kaisha Corporation, with the intent to ship wattle chips to Sanyo Koku Saku Pulp and Paper Corporation in Japan for paper-making. Besides these two stalwarts, both Messrs A J (Dim) Royden-Turner and A J S (John) Slatter had also been instrumental in concluding successful negotiations. The Central Timber Co-operative Limited (CTC) was registered as a co-operative in 1970 and a deal struck with Sumitomo to export Wattle chips. The new central co-operative erected a chipping plant at Cato Ridge and a shiploading facility in the Port of Durban. The new plant was capable of processing some 650 000 tons of hardwoods per annum, although initially only about 250 000 tons of Wattle was to be chipped.

Extract from NCT’s visitors’ book. The Japanese connection, started in the seventies, has gone from strength to strength

The NCT Story

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