NEW ZEALAND IRONSAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 August 1922, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND IRONSAND.

AN EXPERT’S REPORT. SOME RECOMMENDATIONS. (By Wire—Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Last Night. , The report of an English expert (Mr. F. W. Harbord) on the’ production of pig irop and steel from New Zealand titaniferous ironsands was presented in the House to-day. Th'e conclusions arrived at are that the conditions here are such that a blast furnace and modern eteel plant, are not at present feasible, but if power, coke, coal and limestone are obtainable at reasonable prices a small quantity of pig iron and steel may be produced to partially meet local requirements, and this will form the basis for building up a large industry wflien the demand has increased sufficiently to justify 1 , expansion on a large scale.

Should further investigationse show that suitable raw materials are available. New Zealand would be justified in starting the manufacture of pig iron in electric furnaces, provided the materials can be obtained at a price that will enable pig iron to be produced at about £5 10s to £5 15s per ton. Subject to the above, he recommends the erection of an electric furnace plant to produce 10,000 tons per annum, and that a foundry be attached for the manufacture to meet local requirements; that later on a steel furnace be erected to produce steel, either entirely from scrap or partially from scrap and partially from pig iron produced from the ironsands; that when the steel furnace is erected a small mill to roll lode and small bars and possibly small steel sections be installed, or alternatively hammers, or a forging press, whichever is considered most likely to meet the epecial conditions.