IRON & STEEL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 June 1938, Page 8

IRON & STEEL

WORKS TO BE ESTABLISHED AT ONEKAKA STATEMENT BY MINISTER. DECISION BASED ON EXPERT ADVICE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The selection of Onekaka as the site for the iron and steel works to be established in New Zealand was announced last evening by the Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan. Authority for the establishment of the industry in the Dominion is contained in the Iron and Steel Industry Act passed by Parliament in March of this year. Mr Sullivan said that the Government, after considering the evidence and numerous representations that had been made to it, and in particular the views of overseas experts, had decided that the most economical site for the establishment of the iron and steel works was at Onekaka. The Minister added that he had requested the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, to take the necessary steps under the Public Works Act to notify affected persons that the Government had decided to acquire certain lands at Onekaka for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of the Iron and Steel Industry Act, 1937. A notice to this effect appeared in the Gazette issued last evening.

The schedule published in the Gazette shows that the land to be acquired approximates, roughly, 6000 acres. The plans of the land required are deposited in the post office at Onekaka and are there open for inspection. All persons affected by the establishment of iron and steel works and subsidiary undertakings, or by the taking of land, are given 40 days in which to submit-well-grounded objections.

Under the Iron and Steel industry Act the industry is to be managed by three commissioners, and sums of money not exceeding in the aggregate £5,000,000 may be raised on the security of the public revenues for the financing of the industry. After the passing of the Act, Mr G. A. Pascoe, of the Department of Industries and Commerce, was appointed an actingcommissioner, Shortly after his appointment to this position he went to England to consult with experts, travelling from Sydney to London by air.