LOCAL INDUSTRIES.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 January 1919, Page 4

LOCAL INDUSTRIES.

During last session of Parliament an Industries Committee was set up, with the member for Egmoiit a3 chairman, to sit ii) the various centres during February n:ui March to take evidence as to how existing- industries can bo stimulated or new industries promoted, including any proposals calculated to increase production. We trust immediate steps will be taken to invite the Commission to sit ill Taranaki. Here there are industries of vital concern to New Zealand that merit the immediate and sympathetic attention o£ the Government. We refer to ironsand and oil. Private enterprise has for many years been doing the pioneering work and establishing l>e- ' yuad the possibilities of both

these industries. Well over a quarter of a million sterling lias .been spent in testing the oil fields of Taranaki, and the help given by the State can be meatmed in hundreds. It lias been demonstrated that oil fields giving every promisa of success, exist. One well has been carvied down over five thousand feat and the work of boring is still going on. It is in the nature of an experiment, and' the experts in charge are sanguine that the main oil measures will eventually be tapped. Vein 3 giving fair quantities of oil havo been passed through by this and other bores. Well over a million gallons of petroleum has already b.wn won, which is proof enough that J h« lield is well worth further exploiting. The various private companies have about reached the end of their financial tether; if the testing of the field is to be continued the Government must perforce take a hand. There can be no one who could oppose such a step, for few industries offer such possibilities as petroleum and nothing could be of more importance to the Dominion, as well as to the. Jmo'jrial authorities. The development of the manufacture of pig iron from ironsanj has extended over a good many years, and it can now be fairly claimed that the syndicate operating at Moturoa has evolved a process that has all the elements of success and is entitled to the utmost consideration at the hands of the Government. The promoters itava had many difficulties to contend against, succeeding in overcoming them one by one, but now they also must cease operations unless the State takci a hard. Iron is the basis of many industries, ar.d wh.it the manufacture of iron at aa economical rate would mean for Kov/ Zeala?td requires no emphasis; the possibilities are so obvious. If the Parliamentary Committee did nothing else but succeed in interesting the Government in these tv?.'; important and likely industries it would justify its sotting up. There are other minor industries in Taranaki worthy of notice, such as tha development of our ccal measures, and our lime and clay deposits, and the utilisation of the large quantity of tallow that is now exported as raw material. But we have said enough to show the advisability of inviting the committee to pay a visit to these parts and take evidence.