NITRATES FROM THE AIR.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2018, 3 August 1920, Page 6

NITRATES FROM THE AIR.

GOVERNMENT INQUIRIES. [Special to The Sun.] WELLINGTON, August 2. The manufacture of nitrates''from the atmosphere in New Zealand by the use of water power was suggested in the House of Representatives recently, and the Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey stated that, during the War, the British had not possessed as much technical information as the Germans on this subject. Since then Mr Massey lias been in communication with Lord Moulton, a leading British authority, who states:

"Firstly, during the War period, the Germans were in possession of more information on the manufacture of nitrates from the atmosphere than the British, because they worked on a large scale the Haber process, which was in use nowhere else, and which was their main source of supply. The British were compelled to obtain their supplies of nitrates from Chile, but the cyanide process, which is the second most important known, was used by them to a small extent, although it was unsuitable, owing to the amount of power required. "Secondly, the Haber process has now been mastered by the British and is being installed on a very substantial scale. They have made very great progress in knowledge during the last three or four years, and it is doubtful whether they are now inferior to the Germans, although the latter have the advantage of much experience in practical production."