N.Z. MAY GET ALUMINIUM INDUSTRY

Chronicle (Levin), 3 September 1947, Page 6

N.Z. MAY GET ALUMINIUM INDUSTRY

AUCKLAND, Sept. 1. In cooperation with the New Zealand Government, a representative of the Canadian corpofation, Aluminium Limited, Mr. L. G. Bash, arrived by the Port Huon to examine the possibilities of establishing a primary aluminium industry in New Zealand. Mr. Bash, who heads a three-man delegation, vyilh be following in a few weeks by Mr. P. E. Dicke'y, ai\ experieneecl engineer counected with aluminium production, and Mr. P. C. Kirkpatrick, an. expert hydro-electrie development-' enginepr frcm Niagara Falls, Canada. "To a greater degree than is the case with any other ' metaly the provision of abundant electrieal power is essential to the lnanufacture df aluminium, ' ' said Mr. Bash'.- "Since New Zealand has unde'veloped waterpower resources wliich might conceivablv be usefully employed for the production of aluminium, Aluminium Limited is pleased to render its expert assistanee in the study of this problem. ' '• Mr. Bash said Lake Manapouri was being considered as a source of electric power. If the establishment of the industry 'was decided upon, between 50,000 and 100,000 horsepower would be needed for the industry. "So far as is lcnown New Zealand possesses none of the basic raw materials for the production of aluminium but if a smelter could be construetea with easy access to ocean transport and to large sources of low cost hydroelectrie power, it seems reasonable to assume, at the outsec at least, that ari economical industry could be developed just as has been done% iu Canada in spite of a similar lack of raw materials, " said Mr. Bash. The southeru Pacific area -was au importani market for alumiuium and would be increasingly importairt as expanding industrial uses for the metal were developed in that area, lie said. Alumiuium Limited is a Canadian company wliich has lnvestments 111 a number oi industrial enterprises throughout the world, all connected with the produc tion, fabricatiou and sale of aluminium . The Jargest portion of its investmeuts is in countries of the Britisli Coinmou wealth and the principal operating subsidiary, the Aluminium Company of Canada, Ltd., is at present the world 's largest single producer of virgin aluminium ingot. Mr. Bash will leave for Wellington in a few days for consultation with Mr. Nash and Mr. Semple.