IRON.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 42, 11 August 1911, Page 4

IRON.

Both Australia and New Zealand have been quite recently awakened to the fact that their countries are very fine countries that are well worth keeping for the British people. They have recognised, ton, the not particularly remote possibility of having to roll up their sleeves in demonstration of their intention to "have and to hold." If

they had not recognised this they would not have initiated a navy in Australia, or have laid the foundation of an army either in the Commonwealth or in this Dominion. Both Australia and New Zealand have infantile iron industries, and it will he conceded that the steel business plays a very important part when any country is bound by circumstances over which it may have no control to fight for existence. The iron industries wo hear so much about in Australasia are absolutely dependent on iron that comes across the world. Although both Australian and New Zealand ironfounders allege they can successfully compete with outsiders,in the iron business, it is quite obvious that there is not the least possibility of doing so while they are dependent for the raw material on ships that may be sunk a thousand miles from the port of discharge. Australia has been very keen about the manufacture of warlike goods in the Commonwealth, but although she is able to plug away at her steel plates, small arms and so on while the ships keep bringing her billets of iron, she will stop dead in her manufacturing tracks when the iron does not oome, providing she does not work her own deposits, of which she has enough for all present or future needs. It is the Australian Defence Department that is exercised about the situation, and the Commonwealth Forces' Quartermas-ter-General, who suggests the immediate application of electric working to Australian iron ore deposits. In all future Australian defence (or other State contracts) Australian steel will be used. This, however, under present conditions merely means that a greater quantity of steel will be made in Australia from imported iron. In international difficulties such manufactures would cease in both Australia and New Zealand. The necessities of the case make the advice obvious. The industries are languishing now without international complications. With thejn they would disappear. It is therefore essential that Australia and New Zealand shall seek not to extend the manufacture of metal goods from imported supplies but to work the colonial deposits for all they are worth, and be independent of sea-borne billets when the supply ceases.