THE IRON ORE INDUSTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 February 1919, Page 2

THE IRON ORE INDUSTRY.

EVIDENCE BEiFOEE PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE. By Telegraph.—Press Asi,«ci*tion. Wellington, Feb. 10. Giving evidence before the Parliamentary Industries Committee Mr Frank Reed. Chief Inspector of Mines, «<iid that the iron ore in New Zealand was of fair quality and the question was one of the cost of production. If they could get good coking coal near Parapara the cost would be reduced; it might mean a reduction of 9s per ton. He was satisfied we could not compete in steel with other countries at pre-war prices. An imported metallurgical expert could probably furnish ideas ort the the subject of treatment. The High Commissioner had already been approached on the subject. He thought that in the course of time Parapara pigiron would be suitable for the product'nn of steel rails, but even if it provided all the demands of New Zealand everything would depend on the cost of production required for New Zealand. The whole of the slack could be «ent to Hunt.lr, which he regarded as the future Newcastle of New Zealand, where production could be carried on cheaply and satisfactorily. The demand for oils had increased so much of late years that the subject was well worth consideration.