A SALT INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 115, 1 February 1918, Page 5

A SALT INDUSTRY

IMPORTANT MOVEMENT ON FOOT. A movement is on foot in Christchurch, to undertake the production of salt on a largo scale from sea water. The necessary plant is to be erected at New Brighton, and use will be made of eleotric power from tho Lake Coleridge installation. Tho Minister of Marine (Hon. T. M. Wilford) has arranged to pay a visit to Christchurch in connection with this project, which involves access to the foreshore.

Writing in the "Now Zealand Journal of Science and Technology," Mr. L. Birks, electrical engineer to tho Public Works Department in Ohristehurch, urges tho importance of developing the production of common salt in New Zealand. The imports of common salt for tho past five years have averaged 21.\j06 tous per year, worth abmit £72.000. Of this a substantial portion used to come from Germany. That it is possible to produce salt by evaporation of sea water is demonstrated by the success of the venture at Geelong, Victoria-, whero 20,000 to 30,000 tons per year havo been produced for some years past at a very low cost. The sea water of Cook Strait contains 3.33 por cent, of sodium chloride —that is, '10' tops per sore foot. Jt would thus require the evaporation of only 600 aero feet per year to supply the whole of the Dominion's requirements, and in this hydro-electrical power will take an essential part. But in addition to 24,000 "tons of common salt New Zealand imports over 6000 tons per annum of other salts of sodium, worth before the ■ war ovor £100,000 prr annum. Tho developmeut of tho salt and caustic soda industry is the first step in tho production of the wholo of these more valuabh sodium Baits.