Manawatu Herald TUESDAY, MAY 7, 1918. AUSTRALIAN ZINC.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1823, 7 May 1918, Page 2

Manawatu Herald TUESDAY, MAY 7, 1918. AUSTRALIAN ZINC.

AN announcement was recently made by Hie Prime Minister of Australia That a contract has been arranged with the British Government, under which practically the whole output of zinc 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 zii(c, and would prove of great benefit not: only to Australia,, but to the Empire as a whole. During his previous visit to London, MrHughes arranged.a contract for the sale to the British Government of 100.000 tons of zinc concentrates, and -15,000 tons of electrolytic zinc and spelter pci l annum, for 10 years. The new arrangement goes still further, and stocks of zinc concentrates on hand on December 31st last are to be purchased by the Imperial Government, less a definite percentage reserve, and thereafter the Imperial Government is to take 150.000 tons per annum for a 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 suuplying adequately the requirements of Australian zinc relining 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.”