POSSIBILITY OF THE MANUFACTURE OF ALUMINIUM IN N.Z.

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 September 1947, Page 4

POSSIBILITY OF THE MANUFACTURE OF ALUMINIUM IN N.Z.

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, Sept. 1. A representative of the Canadian corporation, Aluminium, Ltd., Mr L. G. Bash, arrived by the Port Huon today to examine in co-operation with the New Zealand Government the possibility of establishing a primary aluminium industry in New Zealand. Mr Bash, who heads a three-man delegation, will be followed in a few weeks by Mr F. E. Dickey, an experienced engineer connected with aluminium production, and Mr P. C. Kirkpatrick, an expert hydro-electric development engineer from Niagara Falls. “To a greater degree than is the case with any other metal, the pro - vision of abundant electrical power is essential to the manufacture of aluminium,” said Mr Bash. “Since New Zealand has undeveloped water-power resources which might conceivably be usefully employed for the production of aluminium, Aluminium, Ltd., is pleased to render its expert assistance in the study of this problem.” Lake Manapouri, he said, was being considered as a source of electric power. If the establishment of the industry was decided upon, between 50,000 and 100,000 horsepower would be needed for the infar as is known New Zealand possesses none of the basic raw materials for the production of aluminium, but if a smelter could be constructed with easy access to ocean transport and to large sources of low-cost hydro-electric power, it seems reasonable to assume at . outset at least that an economical industry could be developed, just as has been done in Canada, in spite of a similar lack of raw materials, said Mr Bash. The South Pacific was an important, market for aluminium and would be increasingly important as expanding industrial uses ioi ~ metal were developed mjhat men.