STEEL WORKS

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 99, 23 October 1924, Page 5

STEEL WORKS

"BIG THING EOR AUSTRALIA"

AGREEMENT BEING DRAWN UP

MANUFACTURE OF ARMOURPLATE.

(USITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPTRIQHT.)

(Received 23rd October, 10 a.m.)

SYDNEY, This Day.

Sir Keith Smith, as general supervisor in Australia, for Vickers, Ltd., is in process of completing an agreement on behalf of that firm with the Commonwealth Steel Products Company, of Newcastle. The agreement, which it is hoped will be completed at an early date, will have a far-reaching effect, as it will mean that Vickers, Ltd., will now have their interests on the spot as far as Australia is concerned. Sir Keith. Smith say 3it will mean a big thing for' Australia, ana will be an important factor iv industrial expansion. Mr. Clegg, general manager of the Steel Products Company, speaking of the possibility of the management installing an armour-plate mill at the works, said . thut at present that commodity was not a commercial proposition. If, however, the Government's future policy of naval defence provided for the total construction of battle cruisers within the Commonwealth, and they guaranteed a market for the product, the company would not hesitate to establish an armour-plate mill.

Mr. Pratten, Federal Minister for Trade, and Customs, speaking at Newcastle on Tuesday, expressed the hope that within the next ten'years armourplate, would be made in Australia,' and that Australia would have an actual scientific basis for its national defence^