NEW INDUSTRY

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 68, 18 September 1917, Page 3

NEW INDUSTRY

NITROGEN FROM THE AIR

WHAT COULD BE DONE IN

NEW ZEALAND

A VALUABLE PAPER

The war has caused the possibility of commencing new industries within the Dominion to be widely discuesed, some of the schemes now freely mentioned being scarcely dreamt of before. In this connection the Wellington Industrial Association has done its part in that it has arranged for several valuable papers to be read before its members. At the annual meeting of the association last night a particularly interesting and important subject, "The extraction of nitrogen from the air by means of hydroelectric power," was dealt with by Mr. J. Orehiston, M.I.E.E. Mr. Ovchiston outlined at length the developments in this connection made in the older countries in Europe, particularly in Norway and Germany, and gave a clear outline of the relative costs of both water and "steam power under the most favourable conditions obtainable in each case. Power produced by the German steam plant at Biterfeld he said, was over fifteen times more costly thai, thai of th<* Norwegian water power at Rjukan. PROSPECTS IN NEW ZEALAND.

Continuing, Mr. Orchiston stated : "It is a recognised fact that New Zealand cannot successfully compete in the world's markets in the supply of goods which depend upon labour as the chief item in their production. Only those products which emanate from the natural reeources of the country figure largely in our exports, such as wool, frozen meat, butter, cheese, gold, flax, kauri gum, and timber. Although ■at one time the Dominion was a large exporter of grain, she is now an importer, largely due to labour conditions, as although the gross return is much less it is found to be safer to devote the laud to raising sheep for their wool and mutton. Continuous cropping will of course also exhaust the stored up nitrogen in the soil. LABOUR AND WATER, POWER.. "The point I wish to emphasise is that in the manufacture of calcium nitrate ,by the direct arm process, the amount of labour involved in comparison to the value of the output is less than that pertaining to any of our exports excepting that of wool, and it may even run wool for first place. The whole question therefore hinges on whether we can harness water power in sufficiently large units and at bedrock cost for both capital outlay and annual upkeep. UNIQUE CONDITIONS IN SOUTH ISLAND. "I may set your minds at rest in so far as the North Island is concerned by stating that there is no water power in this island' of sufficient magnitude, combined with cheapness in developing and facility for transport of the manufactured article, which would be of value for the purpose. The only water powers which comply with all requirements are those located on the West Coast of Otago, and in so far as the facilities for cheap installation and convenience to deep ■water harbours are j concerned they are unique, and I doubt 1 if they can be surpassed in any other part of the world. \ TWO MILLION HORSE-POWER WASTING. " The energy going to waste in the west of Otago approximates two million horse- power. If the' outlet of Lake Te AnaS was diverted to George Sound by means of a five-mile tunnel no less than three-quarters of a million horse power could be obtained from this source alone. (A conservative estimate given by the late Mr.. Hay, Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department). The initial capital per h.p. developed would be low, and in all probability the annual charges would not exceed the Norwegian record, with the added advantage that the Te Anau power would be delivered alongside a deep-water harbour; whereas the Norwegian power, is 86 miles inland, in : volving the transport of goods by two sections of, railway line separated by ferry steamers, and finally conveyed by small river steamers to the Port of Slrien.' POWER FROM THE BOWEN. Mr. Orchistcn mentioned that a syndicate was formed in Dunedin some months ago for the purpose of prosecuting the manufacture of atmospheric nitrogen and other electro-chemica.l productions. Application was made to' the Government for the power contained in the Bowen River, Milford Sound, but so far conspnt had been withheld/ The Bowen could be cheaply harnessed by means of a comparatively short incline tunnel, and would .produce from 15;000 to 30.000 horse-power It was conveniently situated alongside deep water, and has all the elements necessary for the establishment of a successful factory on a moderate scale. There were also a.number of other possible powers, ranging from ten to twenty thousand horsepower within five to fifteen miles, which could all be economically conveyed to j the factory by electric transmission if I required.

ONLY A • MATTER OF TIME. . Tho Bowen alone has sufficient capacity to produce one hundred thousand pounds' worth of products per annum. It was therefore obvious that it would be in the best interests of the Dominion to encourage, such an industry, instead of allowing the water to run aimlessly to waste as hitherto. As the Bowen only represented from one to one and a-half per cent, of the total energy available m the west of Otago, it would be seen that there were vast possibilities in that region. It'was only a matter of time when it would all be utilised, producing many million of pounds' worth of useful products annually. At the present prices for calcium carbide in New' Zealand, the Bowen power w»uld easily pay a hundred per cent, dividend and carry forward a substantial balance; but, of course, things were altogether abnormal just now, nevertheless that would be a very profitable side line under any conditions, seeing that the cost of power would be only about onesixth of the Niagara power, where- so much calcium carbide is manufactured. NITROGEN FERTILISERS: Mr. Orchiston showed how valuable a product nitrogen was in many ways: likewise how profitable it was to produce it. He concluded:—"Experience has shown that every . pound of nitrogen rightly applied to the soil • increases the yield of wheat, rye, hurley, Croats by about 20 Jb of grain and 40 1b of straw. In the case of potatoes 1 lb of nitrogen will better the yield by about 85 lb. Hitherto nitrogen fertilisers have not been much in demand in New Zealand. This is accounted for by the fact that virgin soils are not so deficient in this element as ground which has had a number of crops taken off it. Another und ,v very good one is the fact that Chili nitrates have been too costly as, compared to phosphatic manure. It is estimated that calcium nitrate can produced at the Bowen, and sold tp the farmers within the Dominion at about one-half the price previously charged for Chili sodium' nitrate. It should not be overlooked that when nitrate of soda, the natural product of Chili, gives up its j nitrogen to plants, sodium is left behind I and may be deleterious to the soil. On

the other hand electrically-produced fertilisers containing calcium, \ leavo only lime in the soil, which is usually advantageous." Mr. Orchiston was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his paper.