IRON AND STEEL RESOURCES.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 September 1919, Page 6

IRON AND STEEL RESOURCES.

EXPERT OPINION SHOULD BESOUGHT. AN INTERESTING REPORT. j Wellington, Last Night. The Industries Committee to-night stated.— The committee are convinced that there are considerable quantities of the raw material, both ore and sand, in ' the Dominion, but the evidence submitted as to whether the manufacture of iron could be profitably undertaken at present or in the near future was somewhat contradictory, although many witnesses agreed that iron of good quality has been produced. There was a marked disagreement among witnesses as to the presence of suitable coal in sufficient quantities in the vicinity of the ore deposits. Some witnesses stated that, so far as the working of the Parapara iron deposits is concerned, coal of good quality and in sufficient quantity,exists in the Collingwood County. Other witnesses doubted the accuracy of this statement.: In view of the potential value of these coal deposits, if they do exist, and also in view of the contradictory evidence on the point, the committee recommend that, as soon as practicable, the district be systematically prospected, for coal deposits. The committee believe that, provided the minerals are. of the necessary quality and quantity, the manufacture of pig iron, railway rails, andbar iron can be carried on successfully in New Zealand. Though the Government' in 1914 offered a bonus for the production of a marketable iron, no claim has yet been made for payment of any part of the bonus. ■ In view of the world's shortage of iron and steel and of the increasing demand for these commodities within the Dominion, both by the State and by private enterprise, the committee are of opinion that the value of our iron deposits, both ore and sand, should be thoroughly examined by an expert metallurgist, who should have a thorough knowledge of the manufacture of iron and steel by modern methods and whose services should be secured for the special purpose of advising as to whether the quality of the deposits and the conditions obtaining with respect to them and in the country generally are such as warrant the establishment of the industry in New Zealand. It is recommended that the expert should be obtained either from Great Britain, Canada, or the United States. Further, in view of the great national importance of this question, the committee urge that no time should be lost in giving effect to this recommendation.

The manufacture of steel castings and bar iron from scrap iron available in the Dominion has become a very important adjunct to the iron industry. In order that this enterprise may be successfully continued, the committee recommend that the export of scrap iron and steel be prohibited.

Our manufacturers have followed closely and intelligently the needs of the farming community, and many useful and practical aids to tillage are now available to the agriculturist, and imphment makers in other countries have found it profitable to copy many of the New Zealand productions, with the result that the local industry has to face competition from these copied articles, backed up by the huge financial strength of the outside manufacturing concerns. During the war period this outside comfacturer was able to compete on favorpetition was checked and the local manuable terms. The war being ended, these, conditions can not last much'longer, and the question is whether or not the stability and success of our industries can be secured. The committee recommend, conditionally on our local manufacturers producing implements equal in quality and workanship to the imported article at a price to be approved by the Board of Industries and Commerce, that there should be imposed a tariff duty sufficient to secure to the local manufacturers a fair and reasonable profit. To make New Zealand as self-reliant as possible in war and peace, to develop her latent resources, and to build up a strong and healthy industry, providing constant employment for a large number of people, the committee recommend that a substantial tariff be placed on imported machinery that can be commercially and successfully produced in the Dominion.