RECONSTRUCTION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 109, 1 February 1919, Page 7

RECONSTRUCTION

QUESTION OF RAW MATERIALS STATEMENT BY DR. ADDISON The'first, liflmber of the "British Board of Trade- Journal" to be published after tlio armistice was signed contained a statement by Dr. Addison, Minister of Reconstruction, upon available stocks of raw material. Dr. Addison is reported as having said: "The country will desire to know at tho present juncture what stocks of raw material are available for peace production and what preparation has been made to supplement those stocks by importation during the difficult year that lies befors ■us. .1 will deal first with metals, especially those which are most, vital to our industrial welfare, namely, iron ore, pig iron, and steel. There has been a great increase in our capacity for the utilisation of home ore, and arrangements are being mado with the Shipping- Controller which will render it possible, to import as lnrge a quantity of foreign ore as was imported prior to the war; It is proposed to release iron and steel forthwith. The difficulties which ..may arise owing to tho fact that: through the exigencies of war the price of steel now stands at an artificial level have not been overlooked, and it is intended to continue Orders .fixing for a period a maximum price for steel, though this may involve continuing some measure of Government assistance for that period. With regard Ho other metais. I am glad to be able to assure the House that there is a. sufficient supply available to render it possible to . release soine from control now, and nearly all the'rest wo hope to release within months. I a.ni convinced, after a'close'.'survey of the position, that we shall be" able to meet the demands which'i'ecoiistruelion will make on our resources during that time, but while I aursatisfied' that there'wilrbo enough for all if it is equitably, divided, there must- be no selfish attempt on tho part of individuals to secure more than their share, and for this purpose it may bo necessary to take precautions against hoarding. ... . ... "1 would like to say a few words with regard to wool, cotton, jute, and leather. ' The existing control organisations have methods already devised for the easy transfer from war to .peace , aqndmoM with regard to wool, jute, flax, hemp, and'other industries. The main difficulty is tho shortage of material, but the sitim-. tion can only lie relieved by a reduction in military orders. "I will say a word on the vital importance of the work of the Jolnt'Council of Priority, which has been established for some little time, because it is quite clear that in some industries tho demand is going to be' much greater than wo can supply, and, therefore, at all events with respect to some .. of them, measure of priority organisation, we hope worked in the main by the trades themselves, will have to bo instituted.:-: