NEW ZEALAND IRONSAND. A New Mine of Wealth.

Free Lance, Volume II, Issue 72, 16 November 1901, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND IRONSAND. A New Mine of Wealth.

NEW ZEALAND is just on the eve of trying her hand again at an industry thai heretofore has hung fire by reason of difficulties m the proper method of treatment Many prominent men pinned their faith to the potentialities of Neu Zealand nonsand as a factor for the advancement of the colony, and no one, perhaps, had greater confidence in proving it to be one of New Zealand's most valuable assets, than Mr E M Smith. True, his theories as to the wealth lying idle on our coasts were ridiculed He became used to ridicule, and showed, by his energy and perseverance, that the prospects of the development of the iron industry in New Zealand were to him. at least, very real indeed * • • With a man of pronounced business acumen and foresight, as the Hon. A. J Cadman undoubtedly 13 to assist him in the project, he has successfully proved that his belief in the quality of Taranaki ironsand had a good foundation Business men at Home have satisfied themselves that the New Zealand ironsand can be turned into steel of as good quality as can be produced in any country in the world Furthermore, they are willing to back their opinion to the extent of investing money on it That the project has a brighter outlook now than at any time is evidenced by the fact that the sum of £•200.000 to fuither it is available * • • Here is a project that promises employment for a thousand hands immediately, but with possibilities of expansion that cannot be estimated. It means that almost immediately we shall be able to supply our own wants in utensils and implements that up to now have been expensive by reason of duty and heavy freight charges. It means that, our own needs being supplied, we can supply others, and that the thriving of the industry will add largely to our population * • • We cannot immediately compete \\ ltli the peoples among which the iron industry has been established for centuries, but for our internal needs we can gieatlv reduce the prices now luhng New Zealand has immense supplies of the raw material lying leady to be picked up, and the ease of winning it, and consequently the simplei and cheaper methods of treating it, will make it possible for New Zealand to work it more cheaply than those countries in which the raw product is more difficult of access We have raw material, brains, and energy m New Zealand, and the necessary capital and expert skill are being now procured If we cannot supply our own needs, and help to supply the needs of others, then we have a good de-al yet to learn m the arts of successful nationhood