Australian Zinc

Levin Daily Chronicle, 11 May 1918, Page 4

Australian Zinc

a&T.T. or THE WHOLE OUTPUT

An announcement was recently made by the Prime Minister of Australia thut a contract has been,arranged with the British Government, under which practically the whole output of zine concentrates in Australia for the period of the war and 10 years after will be purchased by the Imperial Government. This contract, said the Prime Minister, was probably the largest ever made for the sale of zinc, and would prove of great benefit not only to Australia, but to the Empire as a whole. During his previous visit to London Mr Hughes arranged a contract for the sale to the British Government of 100,000 tons of zinc concentrates, and 45,000 tons of electrolytic zinc and spelter per annum for ten years. The new arrangement goes further, and stocks of zinc concentrates on hand on December 31 last are to be purchased by the Imperial Government, less a definite percentage reserve, and tnereaftcr the Imperial Government is to take 250,000. tons per annum for the period of the war and one year thereafter, and 300,-000-tons per annum for the nine following years. The Imperial Government also secures an option over the balance of/the production of Australia . At the same time provision has been made for supplying adequately the requirements of Australian zinc refining works for the whole period covered by the British contract, and the fulfilling of existing contracts with Japan. "Without entering into details as to the price and conditions," said Mr Hughes, "I feel that I am justified in saying that as a whole the contract is most satisfactory to all concerned. The control of this base metal by the Empire has been secured, and I am in hopes that contracts will be made with the Copper Association, and with the lead producers. I regard the control of the metal industry as vital to Australia and the Empire."