THE IRON INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1248, 6 October 1911, Page 9

THE IRON INDUSTRY.

DISCUSSION AT HAEBOURS CONFER ENCE. The Harbours Conference yesterday con sidcred the representations made on Wednesday by a deputation of ironmasters. Mr. W. Belcher (Otago) moved: "That this conference is of opinion that the various Harbour Boards should, as far as possible, give preference to local manufacturers in the acquiring of machinery required for harbour purposes." He moved tho resolution, he said, out of sympathy for the deputation which waited upon the conference, and made out a very good case for tho languishing iron industry. There was a good deal of material imported which could be mauuf-ictured locally. He believed that, taking everything into account, goods could bo produced in the counitry at about 5 por cent, more than in Great Britain. And was it not better that tho extra price should bo paid in ordor that our young men trained here should not have to go out of tiro country to got employment. There were the mechanics in New Zealand to do the work, and the industry was languishing for lack of support. Only give tho local ironmaster an opportunity and he would turn out as pood an articlo as could bo produced in any part of the world. Mr. 11. E. Wilkinson (Otago) seconded tho motion. There was no doubt, ho said, that the iron, industry was ono which New Zcalajid required for its future. development, and it should be fostered if possible. Ho would not say that all iron work should bo done in tho country, for -ho recognised that there was somo machinery which could bo produced so much more cheaply abroad by firms who made a speciality of particular classes of work. The motion was carried without further discussion.