NITRATE PRODUCTION

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1039, 1 August 1930, Page 10

NITRATE PRODUCTION

REPORT ON LAKE MANAPOURI SCHEME EXPERT LEAVES FOR ENGLAND THE SUN'S Parliamentary Reporter PARLIAMENT BLDGS., Thurs. For some time past the residents of Southland and business people throughout New Zealand have been keenly interested in a scheme for the production of nitrates in the West Coast sounds of Southland with power developed from the waters of Lake Manapouri. A thorough investigation into the possibilities of the scheme was recently made by one Gibb, on behalf of London financiers interested in the scheme and Mr. Gibb left for London on Tuesday to present his report to his principals. This report is confidential and will not be released to the general public, but will be presented to the shareholders or. the prospective shareholders in the venture.

The report Is highly satisfactory in every respect and is so thorough that it will enable the promoters of the scheme to order the necessary machinery for the nitrate works if they decide to go on with the development. The report deals with the harnessing of the waters of the lake, with the tunnelling which will have to be taken through the mountains to the proposed site of the nitrates factory and with the factory site and the shipping of the product. Mr. A. Leigh Hunt, New Zealand agent for the promoters, said today that he could not disclose the -contents of the report, which was a highly technical one, but he was at liberty to say that it was very satisfactory. He felt confident that it would prove very satisfactory to the promoters and he was optimistic of the future of the scheme, which was a big one and one that would do a great deal toward promoting progress in New Zealand. “It will make some of the pessimists of the country realise that they are wrong,” he said. “There are great possibilities along those lines in the Dominion and it will be for the good of everyone if they are developed." The Minister in Charge of the Tourist Department, the Hon. P. A. do la Perrelle, states that from inquiries made by him it appears that the operations of the nitrate syndicate will not to any appreciable extent be detrimental to the beauties and scenery of Lake Manapouri.