PRHSIDKNTIAl. .\ni)Ri:sS SKCTloX l',. 83 



regard to potassium salts there are no deposits of easy clieinical 

 access outside the celebrated Stassfurt beds, but there are sources 

 within this country, which could be realised if the necessity arose. 

 At the present moment strenuous research is l)eing made in ihe 

 United States of North America with regard to the treatment 

 of similar sources of potash in order to meet their own requiie- 

 nients, and, should these experiments prove successful, the appli- 

 cation of similar methods in this comUr\- may vet ])rove of great 

 value. 



Returning again to the consideration of the exports of the 

 country, we find that copper ore and matte, tin ore, lead ore. and 

 raw asbestos, along with coal and diamonds, form the remainder. 

 It is. indeed, a sad reflection that we must needs ex])ort these 

 raw materials, as such, without making even the slightest attempt 

 to extract their valuable contents or work them up in any manner 

 whatsover. but rather in addition pay freightage on admixed 

 dross. .V pitiable confession of failure in very truth, since the 

 paths are easy and rendered still more so by the value of the 

 prospect! If the Chinaman and the Malay are capable enough 

 tc win the tin from its ore. why should we hesitate? 



Further, we require these metals in some degree even at 

 present, since we imported in 1913 the following amounts: — 



Copper; Bar. ingot, and rod ^8,158 



Plate and sheet 4>767 



— ^i^-9^.S 



Tin : Bar. block, and ingot £12,797 



Total £25,722 



If these figures constitute a subject for serious study, the 

 case is even more surprising, when the imports necessan,' for the 

 prosecution of the country's work are considered. The follow- 

 ing table gives a list of the articles (and their value for the year 

 1913), produced by chemical industry which could be manufac- 

 tured in this country. In this are included only such substances 

 as can be prepared from materials which are available here, 

 either in their raw state or those which can be grown on the soil : 



I. Cool Products. £ 



Ammonium Sulphate 4'707 >^f*i7*^7\ 



Ammonia for ice making 4,811 /Vp ^ y\ 



Ammonium Carbonate 928 /Xy^-'^ S >V^\5^ 



Carbonic Acid Gas 1,827 ; '^/'v -^^-w V\ ^ 



Calcium Carbide 46,715 (UJ / f , f> o a O Y 



Creosote 801 (1^: [LIBRARY 



i2i V 



Pitch 913 \-^\ "*^®"*" y ^ 



Tar 26,765 "''5>X:^/.<•"•^^»<^ 



Disinfectants and Germicides 43,272 \/9 " " ^ ^""^ 



Printers' Ink ( ?) 10,802 



£141,541 



