INDUSTRIES EXPAND IN AUSTRALIA

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 72, 18 December 1937, Page 10

INDUSTRIES EXPAND IN AUSTRALIA

Mining And Steel EXPENDITURE ON PUBLIC WORKS SCHEMES “There is a remarkable expansion in secondary industries in Australia, and firms are having difficulty iu fulfilling demands and obtaining skilled men, said Mr. Eric E. Hendriksen, civil and structural engineer, Wellington, who returned recently from a three mouths’ holiday in Australia. Expansion was specially noticeable in the mining and steel industries.

South Australia was entering into a new era in extending her mining interests, in the installation of large chemical works close to Adelaide, and in the proposed establishment of steel smelting works at Wyalla, said Mr. Hendriksen. “New South Wales is well to the front with these industries. The ramifications of activities at Newcastle are tremendous, and the production of steel from the natural ore to the final products of structural shapes, sheets, pipes, wire ropes, fencing wire, alloy castings, and other articles, indicates how Australia is rapidly becoming self-contained.” At Newcastle, he said, was manufactured the entire supply of electric light globes for Australia, and the present output of the plant was only a fraction of its full capacity. In Victoria there was considerable development in the smaller commercial factory, motor-car body manufacture and assembly, and in a vast aeroplane factory close to Melbourne. A further industry which was being developed was the manufacture of paper pulp from the euclypt trees. It had now passed the experimental stages, and was expected to be operating commercially early next year.

“Tasmania is also sharing in this industry, and a huge paper and pulp factory is being erected at Burnie. The amount of private money in this scheme is about £1,500,000,” said Mr. Hendriksen. In addition, the tin works and copper mines on the south-west coast were working to full capacity.

Public Works Expenditure.

“Reliance on public works expenditure for the construction activity is largely evidenced in Queensland and in South Australia. At Brisbane the Storey Bridge at Kangaroo Point is well under way. It was designed byDr. J. J. C. Bradfield, who was responsible for the design and supervision of the construction of Sydney Harbour bridge.” The job was let by contract to a local company, and the total expenditure involved was about £4,000,000. Another large Government scheme was in hand in the construction of Somerset Dam, about 70 miles out of Brisbane. This was to regulate the flow of water in the Stanley- River, and would cost about £2,000,000. Flood prevention works were being tackled by the Government in South Australia below Adelaide, and large barrage work was being done at the mouth of the Murrhy River. The latter work was being done to regulate the water level at the river mouth so as to prevent the movement of salt water upstream during periods of small flow. At present the water frequently became saline for miles upstream, and was unfit for cattle. In New South Wales and Victoria public expenditure was employed in road and bridge construction. At Sydney the completion of the railway circuit was in hand. The proposed bridge over the Hawkesbury River at Peats Ferry would, when completed, relieve frequent traffic hold-ups on the highway between Sydney and Newcastle, but the foundations would present the greatest difficulty, as they had to be sunk to a great depth.