These companies have to overcome numerous obstacles, however, before they can use their plants, now existing to full capacity, and even to a greater extent before they can carry out the projected expansion. One of the chief difficulties, or rather embarrassments, is in getting the basic material, largely bauxite, because it must be imported and therefore paid for in funds abroad, the use of which is severely restricted. Another is to enlarge personnel of skilled labour to operate the plants, Still another difficulty is official restriction "on èxpansion of company capital. An important obstacle to the erection of new plants is the scarcity of steel and other building materials.
As to the import of bauxite, however, it is estimated that its cost does nct exceed 10 to 15 per cent. of the total production cost of the aluminium. On the other hand it is expected that the utilization of alumina clay and rock, which is used by some plants, will be greatly facilitated by the recent researches of Dr. Yagoro Kato, of the Tokyo University of Engineering Science, who has announced an economical process in conjunction with the manufacture of sulphate of ammonia, a fertilizer much used in Japan.
Another complication in the situation is the project of the government to set up a semi-official corporation to manufacture aluminium, possibly taking in some of the existing companies, All the latter bitterly oppose this project declaring that it will actually set back instead of promoting the production of the metal, endangering much of the progress that has been achieved through much adversity, in getting the new industry started during the past few years.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.