TABLE SALT SUPPLIES

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28530, 8 March 1958, Page 14

TABLE SALT SUPPLIES

Production In N.Z. Possible

lodised salt could be produced in New Zealand if imported supplies were greatly affected by recent import cuts, said Mr P. J Skellerup, managing director of Dominion Salt, Ltd., in Christchurch yesterday. Mr Skellerup was commenting on the published opinion of Mr W. A. Innes, chairman of a group of United Kingdom salt companies, who said in Wellington that he hoped to persuade the Government to remove all restrictions on the importation of domestic salt.

Mr Innes claimed that if the 50 per cent cut on imports of salt was not lifted before the end of the month, a shortage to the consumer could be possible. Mr Skellerup said that solar salt of high purity was being produced at Lake Grassmere, and the product compared favourably with salt produced at works which were similar to the Grassmere project.

After treatment in a plant which was readily available, the salt would be suitable for human consumption. “It is fair to say that the quality of salt from New Zealand’s own resources is similar to that available to the Australian public, where solar salt has been marketed for table use for many years,” said Mr Skellerup.

‘‘Another factor which makes this salt most acceptable to the public is that it contains many trace elements lacking in imported salt,” he said. Mr Skellerup said that negotiations with the New Zealand Government had been arranged for a close examination of an expansion plan to increase the production at the Lake Grassmere works.

Tlie Minister of Finance (Mr Nordmeyer) had recently inspected the works, he added.