POSSIBLE SCARCITY OF IRON

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3095, 28 May 1917, Page 6

POSSIBLE SCARCITY OF IRON

Por the first time probably in British history (says the "Daily Mail") iron-ore figured the other day in a speech by the first Minister of' the Crown delivered from his place in Parliament. Air. Lloyd George referred to the necessity of keeping up our imports of iron ore,' but also- to possibilities in connection ■ with British ore. Tbe references, incidentally, were a striking tribute to the part that iron and engineering are playing in the great war; but the part they will play when peace returns, will be still greater. In another part of this issue will he found a reference to the remarkable way in which imports of foreign oro into Middlesbrough - are maintained. The value attached by Germany to the possession of iron ore is indicated by tho proposals that are being made to obtain still further control in some form or other over the iron ore deposits of Yrance by acquiring rights at least over the deposits of Nancy and Longwy. v It is quito possible that a temporary, scarcity of iron will soon be experienced by the industrial nations of the world. At this moment both Denmark and Norway are actually suffering from snch a scarcity, though in their case Germany could relieve it if she were so minded. "Having regard to tho demand that must arise for iron immediately tho war is over, it is to bo hoped that the experiments with the iron sands of New Zealand, to which' reference was recently made in the Supplement, will be continned, and that, efforts will be made to explore and utilise other of the many deposits of iron ore known throughout tho British Dominions overseas.