A GERMAN MONOPOLY.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 September 1915, Page 4

A GERMAN MONOPOLY.

HOW IT WAS COUNTERED. How a German monopoly was circumvented by New Zealand ingenuity was modestly but lucidly explained by Professor T. H. Easterfield in a lecture delivered before the members of the Wellington Philosophical Society. He was talking about the manufacture of eearchlight carbons which, prior to the war, was pre-eminently a German and Austrian industry. it was said that only four years ago the whole of the British fleet was supplied with German carbons, Carbons sent for our own fort's were made at Numberg by the big German Arm at Conradi. It was also stated that a few years ago it was pointed out to the British Goverumont that it would not be able to play any searchlights if war broke out, that they were dependent on foreign carbons, and, in consequence, tho British Government subsidised one or two firms in England to put down searchlight carbon factories. Nevertheless, practically the whole of •the world's supply was made in Germany by Conradi at Numberg, Siemens at Charlottenbwg, and the rest in Austria.

When the war broke out, said Professor Easterfield, the Defence Department asked him if he could supply it with searchlight carbons. He was'not a, manufacturer and he trusted that he knew something of his own limitations, and before he replied he got into touch with Mr. William Ferguson, managing director of the Wellington Gas Company, and Mr. Archibald Dougall, and consult, cd them as to the making of that product. The Gag Company and various other manufacturers in Wellington had done everything in their power to assist, nnd the result was that they had been able to make a carbon which would do its work.

Professor Easterfield went on to give a not too technical account of difficulties he and those associated with him in this enterprise had met with, and he was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for a very interesting lecture.