MINING OF IRON ORE

Southland Times, Issue 24880, 21 October 1942, Page 5

MINING OF IRON ORE

PLEA FOR EASING OF RESTRICTIONS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, October 20. During the discussion on the Statutes Amendment Bill in the House of Representatives today, Mr W. J. Broadfoot (Nat., Waitomo) raised the question of restrictions on mineral development in New Zealand. The Act of 1937, he said, had prohibited the mining of iron ore by private individuals or companies. It had been found that certain clays used for a purpose other than the production of iron ore contained iron ore and consequently could not be legally used. An amendment was put through in 1941 to correct this, but those wishing to work such deposits had to get a permit from the Minister of Mines. He contended that this was too restrictive, as iron ore was present in small quantities in many minerals in New Zealand. The Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, said the clause in the Bill which permitted such deposits to be worked under licence on private as well as Crown lands was obviously framed to encourage the exploitation of mineral deposits. Apparently Mr Broadfoot wanted the right to exploit such deposits without any restriction. Mr Broadfoot said all he wanted was to have minerals made more readily available for exploitation so that they could be produced in New Zealand instead of having to be imported. Mr Sullivan said he hoped to see an iron and steel industry developed in the near future, and where deposits essential to that industry were not involved, Mr Broadfoot’s suggestion might be worth considering so as to make other minerals more readily available. The Hon. H. G. R. Mason said the matter was too complex to be unravelled in the time at the disposal of the House, but the clause could be looked into later. The Bill was then passed without amendment.