RADIUM IN AUSTRALIA

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 569, 23 January 1929, Page 9

RADIUM IN AUSTRALIA

DEVELOPMENT URGED EXPERTS ARE DOUBTFUL (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) Reed. 11.10 a.m. LONDOIN, Tuesday. There are general references in the British Press to the Prospects of developing Australia’s radium fields. Quoting Lord Knutsford, wh asks if the Government cannot explore this source of reducing the price of radium to needy institutions, the “Star,” in an editorial, says: “"Why should the Governments not encourage radium discovery in the interests of suering humanity?” The Australian Press Association interviewed a high research official cognisant of Imperial possibilities. He said he would like to give an affirmative answer to the query concerning Australia, but expert knowledge demands an emphatic negative. The Australian mines at Mount Otaray and Painter were discovered a year before the Congo deposits. Kxperts examined the Australian samples and reported favourably, but were doubtful concerning their commercial possibilities. The official added that at present he does not know anywhere in »he British Empire w’here radium is produeable commercially. Some fpecimens are good, but it needs more than specimens to make mines. It was ascertained that Australian sellers are endeavouring without result to sell for some time. Interested parties consider the publicity is unfortunate.