CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 171, 21 July 1928, Page 11

CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES.

In addressing the shareholders at the annual meeting of Imperial Chemical Industries, Ltd.. Sir Alfred Mond (now Lord Melchet) made several references to the enterprise of the company in Australia and New Zealand. He stated that the company was doing a very large business in its various commodities in those markets and the board foresaw great developments there in the not far distant future. Six months ago the directors had sent out a commission of technical and commercial officers to study possibilities. While not committing himself to any definite opinion, it seemed to him probable that in due time the company would proceed with the installation of local chemical factories, particularly for the supply of fertilisers. These they hoped would not only be profitable to the shareholders, but would also give impetus to the primary industries of Australasia by providing the best ' fertilisers that science could produce. Lord Melchet said that there were already friendly corporations operating in the chemical businesses of Australia. He was hopeful that the company might and it possible to get their sympathy and interest in its programme and bring about a co-operation which would tend to the advantage of both manufacturer and consumer. The Australian Government was naturally very much interested in oil supplies, and recently the company decided to instal an experimental plant in Australia to demonstrate the practicability of extracting oil in various forms from lignite coal. From this plant, if successful, would flow many possibilities.