At the second Annual General Meeting of the Southern Africa Stainless Steel Development Association held in Johannesburg on August 18, Mr. A.J. Barke, the Chairman, gave the following report to members.
The Chairman, Mr. A.J. Barke addresses members at the Annual General Meeting.
“For the second year of the association’s existence I am happy to report progress which has been steady, if not as spectacular, as its first year.
Quite the most important event of the past year was the official announcement of the commencement of stainless steel manufacture by the Southern Cross Steel Company towards the end of this year. As you all know approximately 8,000 tons of stainless steel in all its forms were imported into South Africa in the last calendar year, 1965. World production has doubled every 10 years and it is interesting to note that Southern Cross have estimated a faster development in Southern Africa because of the considerable wealth of raw materials right here making it possible to maintain and even reduce the price generally. We wish them every success and assure them of our co-operation.
Because of the considerable expense to the association of commercial secretaries, Mr Bath of Southern Cross offered secretarial assistance last March for a period pending the appointment of a permanent secretary and I wish to express the appreciation of the association for this help. As you know we have advertised for a suitable Technical Director and it will be the first task of the new committee to interview and select someone for this most important office.
The journal of the association is now in its second year and after a very good start is in need of some support from members in both advertising and material for publication. Don’t forget it is your own lusty infant which will be the better for any extra nourishment you can give it.
Naturally the main purpose of a Chairman’s report is to review the past years activities but in a dynamic association so much past and current work has been or is being done for the future that I feel this report would be incomplete without a look forward into the next year.
A pause in the proceedings for refreshments.
Most members are now fully aware of the proposed reconstitution of S.A.S.S.D.A. which was approved at the Extraordinary General Meeting in May. We are also fully aware of the tremendous impact that the local production of stainless steel will have on industry as a whole and your committee of management considered it vital to take all necessary steps to ensure that the association would be competent to carry out the important development tasks which lie ahead. The strength of this association lies in the combined strength of all individual members working together for the common cause and I am sure that the next chairman will be able to count on the full and active support of each member during what will undoubtedly be one of the associations most eventful years.
I which to record my keen appreciation of the efforts of the committee during this year of office and to congratulate the new chairman, wishing him and his committee every success in what is bound to be a most interesting, exciting and critical year for the association.”
