STEEL PRODUCTION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22429, 27 May 1936, Page 14

STEEL PRODUCTION

CHRISTCHURCH COMPANY The importance of developing the production of/steel in Now Zealand was stressed by Mr. J. M, Desehamps, managing director of tho Australian Alloy Steel Company, who arrived from Sydney by the Niagara yesterday on a business visit in connection with tho affairs of Alloy Steel (Now. Zealand), Limited, a company formed last .year tn manufacture steel in Christchurch. Mr. Desehamps stated that tho manufacture of alloy steel was an important development in tho industries of tho Dominion. Previously it had been necessary to send abroad for parts for mining dredges and other machinery, but the foundry had started production in February with an electric furnace plant, and was' making dredge and agricultural machinery parts and steel forrailway construction. The scrap steel, limestone, sand, and other materials necessary for tho manufacture of the alloy steel were all obtained in the Dominion, and there was a staff of 20 or 30 New Zealanders, which would l?o increased to 100 in the future, added Mr.. Desehamps. They had the benefit of technical advice from tho Sydney plant of the Austrnlian Alloy Steel Company, as the industry was highly technical, and the guidance of an established firm was needed. Mr. Desehamps said that the capital of the company was £40,000, and the directors were himself, and Messrs. C. Davis, H. Anderson, L. G. K. Steven (Christchurch), and K. Pallo and. P. Nathan (Auckland).