NITRATES FOR NEW ZEALAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 716, 16 July 1929, Page 1

NITRATES FOR NEW ZEALAND

British Chemical Combine’s Move

experimentalist appointed

SO encouraging ha.s been the success of New Zealand experimental work carried out by the Imperial Chemical Industries combine, that it has been decided to appoint a fulltime scientist who will remain in the Dominion and cooperate with the Department of Agriculture. Dr. 11. E. Annett has accepted the position.

Dr. Annett, who returned to Auckland this morning after a short visit to Australia, has been in New Zealand for the past three years, and has been conducting a private experimental farm at Matangi. Here he has investigated new methods of grass-land management. An ex-member of the Indian Agricultural Service, the doctor was en--aged on highly-important medical research work during the war. “I had retired and taken up my little farm at Matangi, but this new post will not prevent me from carrying it on,” he told a Sun man on the Marama. STARTING THE WAR In explanation of the new move in >,>w Zealand by Imperial Chemical Industries, he gave a brief outline of the absorbing history that lies behind the present-day development of nitrogenous fertilisers. “It may be said that the date of the outbreak of the Great War was determined by science,” he remarked. “Germany was dependant for her nitrates —the essential substance in the manufacture of high explosives—on Chili, and as Britain had control

of the seas she could do nothing till her scientists had discovered some other method of securing nitrogen. "In 1911 Germany was about to go to war, but the scientists were not quite satisfied with their preparations. Then, in 1913, they said they were ready. You know the rest. Germany "as no longer dependant upon outside supplies, and had all the necessary materials for the manufacture of her high explosive.” Britain, continued Dr. Annett, was handicapped by lack of knowledge of Germany's new scientific methods of manufacture, but gradually British scientists came into line and discovered the necessary formulae. The result was a great experimental station at Dillingham, Durham, where a wonderful factory of immense size harnessed nitrogen from the air and manufactured high explosive. EFFICIENT FACTORIES At the end of the war both Germany and England possessed highlyefficient, factories and, as the high explosive was no longer needed, attention was turned to the manufacture of nitrogenous fertilisers, sulphate of ammonia, and similar products. "It was then necessary to create a demand, for enormous quantities could be produced,” said Dr. Annett. “Moreover, it was important that the demand should be a great one because the selling cost was in inverse ratio to the production figures. “Imperial Chemical Industries, controlling the Diltngham factory, had to show the farmers that these products could be used economically. Hence an army of leading scientists "'ere employed at the factory and on outside work. A special research station—probably the best in England—was established and an expert staff placed in charge. The organisation then went further, and special advisory committees "'ere set up. while officers were stationed in various countries. The whole object was not to boost the sale of the Products so much as to carry on sound th Per * ments ' would show that the use of these manures would pay the farmers. ENCOURAGING RESULTS “The results in England and on the : °htinent, where the same work was * > ® ln S carr i e d out by Germany, proved that the use of these fertilisers in addition to phosphates and potash had jargely increased the carrying capachy of grass lands.

“Now, recent experiments have shown that New Zealand will probably give better results from the use of the new fertiliser system than any other part of the world.” The organisation at the back of Chemical Industries deputed Mr. Lindsay Robb, of the Imperial staff, one of the world’s great authorities on the treatment of grass lands, to work in conjunction with the Fields Division of the Department of Agriculture in New Zealand and go into the question of experimental methods, said Dr. Annett. The results have been so promising that Imperial Chemical Industries has seen the necessity for the appointment of a whole-time experimentalist in charge of the New Zealand work. “That is the position that I have been asked to take over. I shall proceed to England and the Continent, consult with the experts at headquarters, and go into the latest methods/* Hr. Annett, who intends to work in close touch with the Department of Agriculture in New Zealand, will sail on the next northern trip of the Aorangi. He preferred to make no statement as to the possibility of Imperial Chemical Industries opening a nitrate factory in New Zealand.