SCRAP IRON

Hokitika Guardian, 23 May 1933, Page 6

SCRAP IRON

FuimiEß 'SHIPMENT FOR JAPAN, I

CARGO OF OVER 7000 TONS,

{Per Press Association Copyright.)

AUCKLAND, May 22.

Japan continues to provide a ready guirket for old metal, and a large cargo of scrap-iron' is now being loaded at : New Zealnd' ports by th© British steamer'Helmspey.

During! the-'past few days the Helmspey has taken about IUK) tons of metal on board at Westport. The scrap consists largely of steel from coal mines. The vessel is proceeding to Wellington to load 4COO tons of miscellaneous sciiap, consisting largely of old • tramway material and railway waste unearthed on the site of the old Petone railway shops. She will later load (approximately 100 Q tons at Dunedin.

It is expected that the Hehtispey will complete her loading operations at Auckland, where altogether about 1500 tons of metal will be put on board. This metal, which has been purchased by <;>,n Auckland firm for •disposal in Japan, is all of good quality and comprises ships’ plates, boiler plates, pdrtions of old railway locomotives, axles, drums, "rails and broken machinery.

Although the price for the metal has not been revealed, it is understood to bo in the vicinity of £1 os a ton in New Zealand currency, making a total -of about £9375. Port charges, loading and, incidental expenses will probably bo about 6s 6d a, ton, a total of £2437.

In addition to. purchasing scrap metal Japan has , also bought a number of old ships in New Zealand and in other parts of the. Empire primarily *for the purpose of breaking the vessels up and converting the. metal to more profitable uses.