SODIUM CHLORATE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21996, 4 July 1933, Page 11

SODIUM CHLORATE

USED AS AN EXPLOSIVE “TREACHEROUS AND HAZARDOUS” (Per United Press Association.) HAMILTON, July 3. “ This case has been brought by the department to give publicity to the extreme danger of using sodium chlorate as am explosive,” stated Mr R. Girling Butcher, chief inspector of explosives, in the Hamilton Magistrate’s Court to-day when Robert Janies Watson, quarryman, pleaded guilty to a charge of manufacturing for practical use as an explosive chlorate powder. Mr Butcher, representing the Department of Internal Affairs, said the defendant was employed in the limestone quarry at Te Palm on March 30. As a substitute for gelignite Watson mixed sodium chlorate and sugar in equal quantities. Sodium chlorate, Mr Butcher said, was used to a large extent by farmers for destroying ragwort. Watson had nearly completed loading the charge, and was tapping it in with a wooden stick when the explosion occurred. As a result the defendant lost two fingers of the left hand, and severely injured one arm. The prosecution was brought with the object of giving publicity to the extreme danger attendant on the use of sodium chlorate in the manner prescribed. “We have reason to believe that sodium chlorate is used largely by farmers for log splitting, stumping, etc. While in many cases no damage might be done it is, nevertheless,, extremely hazardous,” Mr Butcher added. “I believe it was said at a farmers’ meeting that sodium chlorate was cheap and simple. _ It might be cheap, but is anything but simple.” “It is extremely treacherous and hazardous,” commented the magistrate. The defendant yvas convicted and ordered to pay the costs.