THE IRONSAND INDUSTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 264, 9 November 1901, Page 2

THE IRONSAND INDUSTRY.

FAVOUR IBLE REPORTS FROM HON. A. J CADMAN. The Few Zealand Herald's correspondent writes under date September 27 th:— This week some further steel goods in tbe sbapa of cutlery, made from Tirarwki wore received by Ms si's A.J.i 'adman sn r l B. M. Smith, at, their "llio-f-', 13 Victoria street, rhcr-' on Wednesday I siw the Hod. A. J. Oadraan and had a short but interesting chat with him. Every expert, without exception, who had seen tbe fjoods had declared them to be ►'qurfl to the be3t cutlery made from Swedish steel, he told me. Perhaps no higher pr.iise than that could be given. " Then you are satisfied as to the capabilities of tbe sand ?" I asked Mr Oadraan.

"Quite," ho replied. "In fact had I six months ago possessed the knowledge I have now, I would not {have come to England to get money. I would have got in the colony sufficient tojstnrt, anyhow, and would have kept the whole thing in New Zealand." " Shall you carrv the project through before you lenvs England ?"

"I feel sati-<fi-d wa shall. Unless our necrrtiaticns break down I think we oueht to fix it up Of course there is always a risk until things are absolutely aettlpd."

" Then, so far ns things bare gone they ai<e quite satisfactory ?" ! "Yes. There will probably be some conditions attached, and to these the doverrment will have to see. As to these I shall have to communicate! direct wi'.h the Premier. The money is now reidy h°re for underwriting; the cap't il will b) provided on the conditions to wh'cli I h.wj referred. It [will bo for thq Government to say 'Yea' or 'No.' If they want the industry establishei ia the colony they will say ' Yes.' " "What is the capital of the company V " We'), the working capital is .£250,000 (a quarter of a million)," replied Mr. Cadman, " and when we get [fully to work we shall employ quite a 1000 men and boys; probably more." " That will be a big thing for New Zealand!" "It will be the biggest thing New Zealand has ever known, for it will not only be the ironsand that will be utilised, but ccul, lime, and other thiogs will be developed." •'Whit are the conditions of which you have spoken ? Would they be rebates in the duty payable on the plant ? " "That woftld be one thing—but only a small matter compared with the duty now paid by the colony generally on the imported article. There are a good many iron things that go into the colony frfe, you know." Thinking perhap3 that a partial revision of the New Zealand tariff, among other things, might be implied, I pressed Mr Cadman somewhat as to r.be " conditions," but he preferred to go no further. He went on to s*y, howt ver: " While som<) iron and steel goods ard free, duty is paid on others. The latter, we of course, do not want taken off. In fnc u , when we start we shall have to reduce the price of iron 10 per cent, in order to capture the 'rade of the colony. This in itself will be a great benefit to the colony. Wliils we get the benefit of the bonus ffered, the coV ny will thus get an equivalent."