WHEN A FUTURE DAWNS FOR IRON.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1109, 24 April 1911, Page 4

WHEN A FUTURE DAWNS FOR IRON.

ONE WAY OP BEING READY. Telegraph—Press Aseociation.) Christchurch, April 22. A resolution was passed yesterday by tho Trade? ami Labour Federation Conference expressing the hope that tho ironmasters of the Dominion would co-operate with organised labour toward? the nationalisation of natural iron ores. Tho conferc.ee had just previously passed a resolution supporting an increased protection of the iron industry, and the nationalisation proposal was brought on subsequently. The subject was discussed with a reporter by two prominent ironmasters of Christchurch. Mr. Geo. Scott, jun., president of tho local branch of tho Ironmasters' Association, {.aid that there was a good deal to be said in favour of the proposal, and he believed that it was the duty of the State to take the matter up. The quality of tho iron ore and' sand deposits in the Dominion was exceptionally good, and tho existence of large coal supplies and undeveloped po\ver should enable the doposits to be worked as cheaply as they could bo anywhere else. Tho most prominent obstacle was that the consumption of pjg-iron in New Zealand was not largo at present, and, to put up works, would entail a big expense. If, however, tho tariff were reformed to give 33 1-3 per cent, increased protection to tho iron industry, ho had no hesitation in sayin» that there would be three times as much pig-iron used in New Zealand. In the meantime, however, the conservation of our iron ore deposit:, was an important question, and in that connection the State could render a very Rood service. Mr. G. T. Booth remarked that there seemed to bo little hope at present (or for some time to come) of the iron oro deposits of the Dominion l)oin» worked to commercial advantage, either by the Government or by private enterprise. The only way in which it would be possible to realise upon this asset would bo the Rale of the ore. That, of course, would mean depleting one of dip natural resources of the Dominion, which, in time to come, when Hie population had increased vi'ry much beyond its present hunt, would bo. very valuable. In view of that fact it might be desirable that tho Government should take some s'ens to prevent the depletion of this natural product with a view in tho material being worked up for local consumption in (ho future when tho commercial condition of the Dominion warranted it. As far as the immediate working of the deposits was concerned, the posilion was that a very large plant would be necessary if smelting was to bo done, so that pig-iron could compete with imported stuff. A plant which could work economically enough to do that would produce as much iron in a month as would be used in New Zealand in n year. Tho. time v;ould como when New Zealand would be a bi? manufacturing place, and its iron ore deposits would bo of value to it. At present there was no shortage of iron we throughout the world. An export of oro from New Zealand bring in a low profit, but. it would .be exhausting a national resource which, in course of time, would become valuablei I