AUTOMATIC TRIUMPH

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 119, 13 February 1926, Page 10

AUTOMATIC TRIUMPH

OTAHUHU FERTILISER FACTORY SIR FRANK HEATHS HIGH • PRAISE The Assistant-Director of Education, Dr. Marsden, who accompanied Sir Frank Heath on part of his North Island tour, states that the inquiries in Auckland and Waikato were very successful. At Otahuhu Sir Frank Heath inspected Messrs. Wright, Stephenson, and Co.’s fertiliser works, which he considered the most up-to-date in the world, and which impressed him more than anything else he saw on bis trip. Dr. Marsden proceeded to explain that the plant was a triumph of automatic working, man power being reduced to a minimum. The firm employed a brilliant head chemist, and interesting processes and a fine organisation had been worked out, with resultant higher economy. The sulphuric acid required to mix with the calcium phosphate from Nauru Island (in order to make superphosphate) was now being derived from imported sulphur, but experiments with White Island sulphur were now being made at these works. In reply to further questions, Dr. Marsden agreed that anything that would reduce the price of fertiliser would be an immense aid to farmers

in the Waikato and elsewhere, and he understood that results had already been secured in this direction. Additional economies were expected to be made in the working of the industry. He added that Sir Frank Heath will arrive in Wellington on Monday, and will cross to Nelson. The Nelson fruit industry and the Orakaka ironworks will be inspected by him.