SCHEELITE MINES

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9796, 20 October 1917, Page 2

SCHEELITE MINES

on Point of suspension,

HOLD-UP FOR HIGHER PRICES

alleged

The Goldfields and Mines Committee reported in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon recommending to the favourable consideration of the Government the petition of the adheelito mine-owners that they bo paid increased prices, or that the embargo on the shipment of soheelite to America be removed. Mr T. A. H. Field, M.P. for Nelson, urged the Government to take active stops in regard to the matter. It was extraordinary, he said, that the soheelite mining industry in New Zealand should be on the point of extinction through the inaction of the Imperial Government. The committee heard evidence that the scheolito mines were on the point of suspension, as they were working at a loss, though the Efficiency Board hod classed soheelite mining as one of the highest essential industries. Cabinet 'had telegraphed the Imperial Govern, ■ment on the subject, but received no reply. The miners could sell soheelite to ah Allied country at a payable price if the embargo was removed. Air G. Witty (Ricoarton) said that soheelite mining was too valuable an industry to be allowed to drop. STATE PURCHASE ADVISED. (Mr A. H. Hindmarsh (Wellington iSouth) advised the Government to take the mines over. The owners, he said, were being treated very differently from the farmers. The Hon. W. D. S. MacDonald (Minister for Alines) stated that ne had some sympathy with the mineowners. Prior to the war the price of scheelite was £BO or £9O per ton, but to-day the Imperial Government was paying more than 60 per cent, higher. The New Zealand output was 266 tons out of a total world’s output of 14,000 tons. He would be delighted to take over some of the mines, but others were not worth it. Advances were made to tho mine-owners on account of output, which was sold on f.o.b. terms.

Air Field (Nelson): “Suppose they stop work?”

Sir MacDonald: “It won’t matter. They have stored it since August, when the contract expired, holding out for higher prices. ” Tho report was adopted.