PLAN FOR ALUMINIUM INDUSTRY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 17, 31 October 1949, Page 2

PLAN FOR ALUMINIUM INDUSTRY

POSSIBLE ESTABLISHMENT IN

.SOUTH ISLAND

(P.A.) DUNEDIN, October 29. The overseas organisation which had investigated the possibility of establishing an Aluminium industry in the South Island was awaiting some developments in the production of power at Roxburgh Gorge before making any further decision, the Minister of Finance (the Rt. Hon. W. Nash) said to-day. The Minister added that when he was in New York in July the directors of the organisation had told him they still felt the project was of interest to them. It was a subject for further examination by the Minister of Works the Hon. R. Semple), who was being kept fully advised of the technical aspects of the proposal by overseas experts. “Some of the most competent engineers in the world have already explored the Sounds area with a view to using the large resources of water for the supply of hydro-electric power,” said Mr Nash. “The reports received by the Government earlier this year tended to show that the cost of transmission of power to the East Coast of the South Island would be so heavy that it might ultimately become uneconomic, and the possibility of setting up manufacturing plant in the .Sounds area was remote because of the difficulties and-isolation of the <bmployees. ,?