New Zealand Minerals.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 July 1922, Page 1

New Zealand Minerals.

CAPITAL FOR DEVELOPMENT.

POSSIBILITIES OF FUTURE. WELLINGTON July d. Attention was called to the vast mineral resources of New Zealand yesterday nit the welcome given to the British Empire Exhibition Mission by the Chambers of Commerce and Industrial Association, and it was stated tlmt English capital was machinery was badly needed to reach only a portion of the vast mineral wealth of the Dominion. After Major Belcher had given his very interesting address, Air C. J. Ward, president of the Wellington Industrial Association, said they could seo difficulties arising in the project. What benefit would secondary industries derive from the exhibition? Hi had no doubt that question would he adequately dealt with before the departure of the mission. He moved hearty thanks to Alajor Belcher for his address, assuring the hearty co-opera-tion of the interests represented that day in the British Empire Exhibition enterprse. They would afford the Government every assistance in organising and arranging suitable exhibits representing the Dominion's resources. TRON COAL AND MARBLE. Mr Leigh Hunt, chairman of the Central Chamber of Commerce, in seconding the motion, welcomed the high Imperial note which Alajor Belcher had struck. It was impossible to get population until they had the industries going, and capital was required to do that. The exhibition should be taken up with the idea of advertising, not only the primary productions, but the minerals, such as iron, coal. and marble. There were 250 milhin tons of iron waiting to he developed, but how long would they have to wait if they depended on New Zealand capital? There was marble in New Zealand equal to the finest Italian marble, hutcapital was necessary. They must advertise the possibilities of the Dominion in these respects, take specimens with analyses and secure British capital to develop them. They must treat the English capitalist in a different, manner to that of the past. He must Ire given a welcome and some security of tenure, for we in New Zealand only wanted fair ami reasonable terms on which to resume the industries if desired. Tt had been said that the hydroelectrical possibilities of New Zealand were greater than in any other part of the world, hut he thought the time had come when this matter should he taken out of Government bands, although he recognised that the Government had done great work for the country in this respect, They must have British capital and British machinery to develop this power, and lie hoped all this would not ho overlooked in connection with tlie Exhibition Mission, for it was of the greatest importance to the Dominion. The motion was carried linanimoiislv. ATTRACT BRITISH CAPITAL. • Alajor Belcher, in response, said he did not yet know much about New ZeaantPs secondary industries, but gave particulars as to what South Africa and Australia were doing, as published in yesterday’s “Times.”. Their manufacturers should be inrhid- , cd in the exhibition, not because they j could expect to develop British markets for their manufactures, but they would conic before buyers from all parts of the world and would attract British manufacturers, for as New Zealand developed her own resources she would develop her secondary industries. The day had long gone by when the Dominions were considered to be a dumping ground for British manufactures, for as Now Zealand developed her own resources she would develop her secondary industries and this was bound up in the growth of population. The speaker referred to the development of hvdro-elecfric power in Tasmania, and the way in which it had attracted large factories which made use ; of the j lower, instancing flip building ( of the Ondbu ry-.Fry-Itasca 11 factory as an example. A VIRGIN AIARKET. There must be a great future for New Zealand, with great possibilities for fruit. The market for fresh I mil. and jam was limited, but the market, for canned and dried fruit was almost limitless, and there were virgin markers in England waiting for tlu> Dominion to conquer. When the visitors were at the exhibition and attending the restaurants in their thousands, let them see that the Empire can supply canned and dried fruits just as well as California. (Applause). .