DIFFICULTY TO OBTAIN ESSENTIAL N.Z. IMPORTS

Grey River Argus, 5 October 1948, Page 8

DIFFICULTY TO OBTAIN ESSENTIAL N.Z. IMPORTS

DUNEDIN, October 3. Hon R. Semple, at the conference of the Electric Power Boards and Supply Authorities’ Association said that things had never been so difficult internationally as they were at present, and international disturbances might involve New Zealand at any time. Circumstances could arise to prevent New Zealand importing fuel for alternative means of power generation.

Common sense) would 'dictate, in the event of an international disturbance, that the nations should conserve their resources. “The moment that happened you would not get a gallon of oil or a ton of coal from overseas,” he said.

The commonsense thing for us to do is to harness the God-given power in this country and make ourselves independent of other lands. Labour and material shortages were not peculiar to New Zealand, said the Minster. Australia was playing the game on the supply of steel to the best of her ability. The New Zealand Government was Lying to get 100 draughtsmen and technical men from Britain and 1000 capable men who would be earmarked for hydro-electric projects. The employment of all potential energy in New Zealand was essential, he said. Australia could not help much, and the big Broken Hill Proprietary Company’s steel works and mines, he had been told, were in the hands of the Communists, who kept the company on the tight-rope. Mr Semple said they could see more difficulties ahead as it was reported that Australia intended to import cemnet, coal and steel from overseas. "I can’t see Australia selling steel to us at £25 a ton and buying it at £60,” he declared. “These are cold, brutal realities”

The chief bottleneck in construction in New Zealand was steel. Cement and manpower were next in succession.

“I will give you an undertaking that, given labour and materials, we will go ‘hell for leather’,” the Minister concluded.