BASIC SLAG

Hokitika Guardian, 19 May 1927, Page 4

BASIC SLAG

DIFFICULTIES OF HANDLING. WELLINGTON, May 17. For a long time past there lias been considerable agitation, in labour circles particularly, regarding the basic slag shipments to the Dominion, it being contended that with the present system of carrying tbe material in iute sacks, which are damaged in handling, some of the slag escapes through the covering and the dust is inhaled with the risk of subsequent lung trouble developing.

The matter has been under the consideration of the Departments of

Health, Labour, and Agriculture, and also of the Workers’ Associations, and the experiment has recently been tried of dispatching to the Dominion a trial shipment of 20 tons ot basic slag packed in what are known as “ multiwall paper sacks ” of the five-ply type. This shipment recently arrived by the s.s. Kotorua, each sack containing one hundredweight. To-day an inspection was made of the shipment by representatives of the Ministry, the lion. Mr Anderson (.Minister for Labour) and the Hon. Mr llawkeu (Minister for Agriculture), the Labour Department, the shipping companies, and the Alliance ol Labour. The party descended into the hold ol the ship and noted the way the cargo was stowed, and afterwards an experiment was made of the holding power of the five-ply paper sacks. One was enclosed in a bag of ordinary hessian, the month of the latter being securely tied. The package was then slulig half-way to the top of the hatch, taken out of the sling, and dropped from a height of about 12 feet to the floor below—a severe test.

Oil examination the inside paper sack was found to have burst, releasing its contents, but no injury was done to the outer hessian covering. It was pointed out that in the easo of cargo carried in sacks there is generally a percentage of breakages due to handling or poor quality of sacking, and it may be that with a tougher quality of paper greater success will accrue in tbe carriage of the slag.

Upon the condition indicated the experiment could not he regarded as satisfactory, but it is looked upon as a valuable contribution to the solving ot what lias hitherto proved an almost insuperable difficulty. Tt was mentioned that multiwall paper sacks are now in use in England for the carriage ot cement, but there the handlings are not numerous, and there is no 11.000 mile voyage to be undertaken.