92 The N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology. [Mar. 
remote. On the other hand, where coke and lime are cheap and a good 
local market exists, the business is profitable in spite of the power being 
expensive. 
The export of carbide, because of the risk involved, is somewhat handi¬ 
capped by special freights, and in the case of New Zealand by its distance 
from the exi,sting sources of supply. It is possible that these handicaps 
mRy more than balance the disadvantages present; at any rate, there is 
enough of a probability present to warrant an investigation. 
Let it be assumed that the local consumption in any given district is 
sufficient to enable the carbide to be profitably produced, and that the 
carbide has not to be shipped, and that the district served is within the 
range of economical distribution by rail for this class of material. It must 
also be postulated that a supply of electricity is so generally available 
at reasonable rates that a supply is obtainable at any place where the 
combination of circumstances is such as to enable the carbide to be 
economically produced. 
This latter condition does not obtain at the present time as regards 
New Zealand ; but a beginning has been made, and the time will come when 
electricity-supply will be so generally diffused that wherever the conditions 
exist suitable for the manufacture of any commodity a supply of power 
will be available in any quantity which may be required. 
Let us now review the circumstances and conditions of economical 
production. We have already eliminated export, and have to pack the 
carbide for local consumption only. We have assumed that cheap power 
is available. Let it now be assumed that suitable coke and limestone are 
procurable, and that it is found possible and advantageous to manufacture 
in conjunction with some existing business so as to share the management 
and general charges. It is quite possible that the whole of these facilities 
may be found in combination in some one place. If not, it is quite possible 
that the advantage of an established business connection way outweigh the 
others, and it may be found more advantageous to rail the coke or coal 
and the limestone to the works. 
Several lines of industry present themselves as being suitable for taking 
on the manufacture of carbide in addition to the existing business. Take, 
for instance, the manufacture of illuminating-gas. The gas industries 
are large users of lime. They have an expert staff, and have a selling 
organization and a knowledge of the chemical market. They also produce 
coke in large quantities : this, however, in most cases is not suitable for 
the manufacture of carbide, but this difficulty might be overcome, for 
instance, by devoting a special furnace to the manufacture of coke for this 
purpose and utilizing the gases in the usual way. The yield of gas might 
not be so good from a gas-producing standpoint, but, on the other hand, 
suitable coke is obtained for the manufacture of carbide. There are, no 
doubt, other ways of overcoming the difficulty. 
Another industry which occurs to the mind as being advantageously 
situated for the manufacture of carbide is the freezing industry, Such 
companies are large users of power, fuel, and lime, and are adepts at can¬ 
ning, which is an important item in the carbide industry. The freezing 
industries have also for eight or nine months in the year a large part of their 
plant idle, which during the slack season might be devoted to the manu¬ 
facture of carbide and at the same time afford continuous employment to 
a large number of men. Another point is that cyanamide, which is a most 
