384 The N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology. [Nov. 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
Manufacture of Chemicals and Drugs. 
Sir, —It is quite two years since those interested in scientific progress in 
the Dominion began to move in the direction of co-ordinating science and 
industry, but up to the present nothing very practical has resulted. 
Attention has been perhaps directed too much to the inauguration of 
research, and immediate action has not been taken. Research is a thing 
of comparatively slow growth, and, to enter on it with any prospect of 
definite result, research students must be trained, and little or no pro¬ 
vision has yet been made for this. Meanwhile there is a department of 
scientific activity which could be entered upon almost at once, and where 
some action is much needed ; I refer to the manufacture of chemicals 
and drugs. An attempt has been made in some centres to produce 
these, but apparently without success. If, however, the Government 
were to call together a few leading pharmacists—say, one from each of the 
four main cities—and the chemistry professors of our four University 
colleges, it would be quite possible to devise a scheme for the manufacture 
of the most important lines. Such a scheme would cost a little to start, 
but it would pay the country very quickly. Private enterprise can 
hardly be expected to make a venture on the requisite scale, but the 
Government could easily do it, and the material produced could be 
guaranteed to be of the best quality. 
Caustic soda is very badly wanted for many industries, especially 
soapmaking, and at present all commercial users of soap, such as wool- 
scourers, cloth-makers, &c., are greatly handicapped by its poor quality 
and high price. The substance can be made quite easily wherever there 
is sufficient electric power available. All forms of potash salts are very 
badly wanted, and it is two years since research for suitable scources of 
potash was urged. Various minerals, certain seaweeds, and suint from 
unscoured wool are available, and it should not be difficult to find the 
required material. Pure alcohol, chloroform, and ether are easily made. 
No private individual can, of course, make the first named of these, but 
the Government could readily undertake it. 
The following are the prices, before and since the war, of a few lines; 
they are given me by a well-known chemist, and they show the need of 
some action :— 
February, 1914. 
August, 1918. 
Ether, sulphuric 
<ib.) 
2s. 3d. 
3s. 9d. 
Chloroform 
<ib.) 
2s. 6d. to 9s. 
9s. 6d. to 15s. 
Acetic acid, glacial 
(ib.) 
Is. 4d. 
5s. 6d. 
Carbolic acid, crude 
(gal.) 
5s. 
7s. 
Bromides (Na, K, NH 4 ).. 
(lb.) 
3s. to 4s. 
11s. to 18s. 
Potassium bicarbonate 
(lb.) 
9d. 
7s. 
Potassium citrate 
(lb.) 
3s. 6d. 
9s. 6d. 
Potassium permanganate 
(lb.) 
7d. 
24s. 
Potash, caustic 
(cwt.) 
45s. 
300s. 
Soda-ash 
(cwt.) 
10s. 
67s. 6d. 
I suggest that consideration of 
these 
facts should be 
urged on the 
Government. I do not think the practical difficulties are very great; 
they are certainly not insuperable. » m 
J j f Geo. m Thomson 
Dunedin, 26th September, 1918. 
