Russian Potash For Hornby Works

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31560, 23 December 1967, Page 14

Russian Potash For Hornby Works

Potash from Russia will be imported into the South Island next year. It is believed'that it will be the first potash to come to the South Island from this source.

Mr J. R. Adams, general manager of chemical fertiliser works for Kempthome Prosser and Company, Ltd, said that the company had arranged for four 4000-ton shipments of Russian muriate of potash over the next year. The potash would be shipped in Russian vessels and the first shipment was due to

leave the port of Nahodka on January 8. The shipments would be spread between the company’s Hornby and Wanganui works. The Christchurch manager for Kempthome’s, Mr G. A. Claridge, said that the first vessel would call at Lyttelton and unload 2000 tons. It was due about the first week in February. In the past Mr Claridge said that potash had come from Europe and the United States. The use of potash through the Hornby works was growing, Mr Claridge said. Ten years ago it was about 100 tons a year. Now they were getting up to 6000 tons a year and they were contracting for 8000 tons for next year. Mr Claridge said that a good deal of potash was sent into the Nelson district. Mr Adams said that the use of Russian potash would be of interest to all New Zealand farmers as it would help Russia to buy more New Zealand wool and other commodities.