IRON ORE CLAYS

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 249, 22 October 1942, Page 4

IRON ORE CLAYS

MANUFACTURE OF PAINT. GRANTING OF LICENCES.

P.A.

WELLINGTON, Oct. 21.

Statements that the provision in the Statutes Amendment Bill for the use of iion 01 e from lands not subject to the Mining Act for purposes othei than the manufacture of iron and steel did not go far enouah were

made by Opposition members durin°' the second reading discussion People who wished to develop the minerals oi tlie Dominion were being hampered to a great extent, said Mr Broadfoot (Opposition, Waitomo) The 1937 Act had absolutely prohibited the mining of iron ore by private individuals or companies It had been found that certain clays were used for other purposes than the production of iron and steel, such as the- ■ manufacture of paint, and those using them were committing breaches of the law. This had been remedied by an amendment in 1941 which gave the Minister for Mines authority to grant licences for this purpose. Mr Broadfoot contended that this did not go far enough, and that if it were not compulsory to secure a licence many minerals would be developed in New Zealand and thus save importation. The Minister for Industries and Commerce, Mr Sullivan, said it was obvious that the clause was framed to assist in the exploitation of minerals for purposes other than the commercial production of iron and steel. The Government was trying to meet the situation, but Mr Broadfoot wanted it done without any restrictions. Mr Sullivan said he hoped the day would not be far distant when New Zealand would have an adequate iron and steel industry, but Mr Broadfoot apparently wanted to exploit the deposits for other purposes. Interposing, Mr Broadfoot said that all he wanted was that those minerals which had a trace of iron in them and were consequently subject to control under the Act should be made more readily available for exploitation. Mr Sullivan replied that where the iron and steel industry was not involved he had no objection to having another look into the matter along the lines suggested. The clause was aereed to.