THE IRONSAND INDUSTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 October 1917, Page 2

THE IRONSAND INDUSTRY.

AN INDISPENSABLE KESISIIViST, A case of considerable pnLlic interest came before the No. 1 Military Service Board at New Plymouth yesterday, when the N.Z. Iron Ore Smelting and Manufacturing Company (Mr. J. H. Quilliam) appealed on behalf of John Ambrose Heskett, metallurgist. Mr. AV. J. Penn, deputy chairman of the company, deposed that the company liad purchased the patent rights Of appellant's process for dealing with ironsand. They had erected extensive buildings and plant. Being quite a new industry, and having no previous experience to guide them, alterations and improvements bad been necessary. The experience gained during the trial runs had demonstrated that further alterations, modifications, and improvements would be necessary. The company 'had passed the experimental stage, having already produced 50 tons of iron from a small experimental plant, and they had reached the stage when it was proposed to work a much larger plant. Mr. Heskett's presence was mors than ever necessary. The company had had no opportunity for training anyone to take his place, anfl without him the works would probably have to close down, as witness did not think anyone in New Zealand could b» obtained for the position. Mr. Heskett had been experimenting in ironsamt ior years, and more than any other metallurgist in New Zealand. Apart from his scientific knowledge there was also the practical side to consider, Mr. Heskett having a thorough practical knowledge of furnace work and colco manufacture. In fact, at times 'he hud been 48 hours on his feet at a stretch. Though the company possessed his formula they could not see that they would be able to dispense with him, because while doubtless a man from the School of Mines' could, after a. few months, learn his process, the industry was absolutely dependent on him to train furnace men, feeders and coke mixers, skilled men not'being available in New Zealand. They asked that appellant be retained as an essential man in an essential industry To the chairman, Mr. Penn said the industry was of service to the country now. Already a small shipment of pigiron had been forwarded to Dunedin. Pigiron was badly required by New ZeaJand, and the foundries had scoured New Zealand from end to end for scrap iron, and at present it looked as if half the foundries in New Zealand wo\l)4 close down for want of pig-iron. C'atpain Walker: XVbm wJl] you have an appreciable output to fill the gap ? Mr. Penn said the company hoped to have an output of 8 or 10 tons daily when the larger furnace was running, [ probably next week, barring accidents and unforeseen circumstances. The new furnace was designed for an output of 20 tons per day, but only practical experience would tell if it would turn out that amount, as no other firm in the world ia experimenting with this ironsand. This output would help the industry considerably. They had made no effort to secure a man.

Captain Walker asked if the whole success rested on appellant; ; ' Mr. Penn: "I think'so." He had heard that there was one man in New Zealand who might possibly Jill the position if he could be obtained, but he would not fill it as well as appellant. It would be possible for a -man to work' to the formulae, bub there were occasions when it was necessary to alter the formulae, and Mr. Heskett's experience, gained during the past three and a half years, guided him as to what was necessary. To Captain Walker: Wtinees spoke as a layman. The treatment of the ironsand was now more or less perfected, but a new man would have failures before arriving at the same stage. John Ambrose Heskett deposed that he was a metallurgist., and received his training at the Melbourne School of Metals. He had experimented with Taraflaki ironsand for three and a half years, . and obtained a patent for smelting W-iihi ed to demonstrate it was a commercial success. To Captain Walker: They had not yet demonstrated that it was a commercial success, because, so far, they had pnly used the experimental furnace. From his point of view, the process had proved successful. It was not a secret process, but was patented. He outlined the process. Captain Walker: Could you get another metallurgist in New' Zealand to carry on the work for vou?

Appellant: I- really can't say. To be modest, I would like to say that I could, but I don't think I can. 'Continuing, ho explained the special nature of the difficulties. He had worked with his parents*, who were iron founders, and had worked at various smelting plants in Australia, had had 18 months" in the Melbourne School of Mines, and had, besides other experience, erected 27 crucible steel plants in foundries in New Zealand and Australia. He had laid himself out to study iron and steel metallurgy, and felt that he had not yet accomplished all that he had hoped.

To the chairman: He could teach his formulae to another man, but it would be difficult to get a man, as it would be necessary to combine the analytical and practical, and an analyst might not be willing to touch the'outside practical part, which was hot and tedious work. To Captain Walker: He had not made any efforts to teach anyone. He was willing to take the same chances as others, and sacrifice everything. Decision was reserved.

Mr. Quilliam stated that Mr. Penn wished to intimate that whatever decision the board might arrive at, the company would endeavor to replace appellant if it could do bo. He suggested that the appeal should be held over and reviewed later.