The Press WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 1962. Carbide Project

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29853, 20 June 1962, Page 14

The Press WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 1962. Carbide Project

The support of the B.F. Goodrich Company, of Akron, Ohio, for the investigation of the prospects of a carbide industry near Westport is most encouraging. The American corporation already has substantial interests in New Zealand; but this is a major advance in which Goodrich would not be interested unless the outlook was promising. It now seems likely that the enthusiasm of Dr. T. Hagyard, of Canterbury University, and the enterprise of Wilkins and Davies will bear fruit in the establishment of a basic electrochemical undertaking in New Zealand. That would be a significant point of departure for manufacturing in the Dominion; a carbide industry of economic size w’ould have to be able to sell on world markets as it could not rely for survival on a protected home market. Also, it would supply raw materials for the plastic and other factories that would probably develop in an associated industrial complex. Westport is a logical site for several reasons. It is conveniently close to abundant supplies of raw materials; power could be generated from the Ohikanui river, which joins the Buller between Inangahua and Westport; and the district is not plagued with the labour shortage that frightens many overseas in-

vestors away from New Zealand. As a great new source of wealth a carbide industry would be nationally important. At the same time its growth would be particularly acceptable in Westport now that the immediate future of coal as a fuel is doubtful. The promoters of the scheme will not persevere with it unless it appears economically sound; and it will generally be hoped that their early expectations are justified.

The establishment of a carbide industry is not something that should depend on Government approval, except, of course, for the granting of a licence to generate hydro-elec-tricity. Granting such licences has been Government policy for some time; the Southland aluminium project is an example on a giant scale. Less electricity is required for the manufacture of carbide if the flow of the Ohikanui is considered adequate. Apart from this, the Government’s part in the project would seem to be no more than the negative one of not putting obstacles in the way of private enterprise. The question of protection is unimportant. However, the promoters of any new business in a country like New Zealand would naturally wish to be assured of the sympathy of the Government.