1.—12.

212

J. C. SMITH.

John C. Smith, examined. I desire to give evidence in connection with the iron industry. Mr. Tweedale and I have been experimenting for nine years in connection with this matter. We have expended about £1,000 upon it. We have proved that we can produce pig iron of a high grade at £3 10s. per ton; and we also have a by-product which we can convert into basic-slag material by the addition of chemical mixtures. We also have the raw material in the district for adding to the basic slag. We have also proved that the ironsand which we use contains other metals. On the 22nd October, 1911, Professor Jarman, of the Auckland University, gave us the following analysis of a sample which we forwarded to him: "The sample of zinc (spelter) submitted by you contains—Gold o'ls per cent,, and silver 0 - 45 per cent. This is at the rate of—Gold 49 oz. per ton, and silver 147 oz. per ton, of 2,240 lb." That is the highest. We also received from him another analysis, as follows: " Portion of zinc ingot—Gold o'ooß per cent., equal to 2 oz. 12 dwt. 6gr.; silver o'o6 per cent,, equal to 19 oz. 12 dwt." We also obtained platinum in payable quantities. The latest quotation for platinum is £22 per ounce. We are asking for Government assistance because we have expended all our original capital. We are prepared to give the Committee a test at any time under strict supervision. We also can make slag cement, costing about £2 per ton. We can make a 20-ton concrete block for £1, in compiarison with the ordinary concrete block costing £14. We can also produce with electrical steel furnaces several different kinds of steel, and we can make steel direct. [Samples of castings of pig iron exhibited to the Committee.] To Mr. Hornsby: We have a small experimental furnace in our yards at New Plymouth. I have here a sample of bullion metal. [Sample produced.] It takes 32 cwt. of raw sand to produce a ton of bullion metal. All these results were obtained under test conditions. To the Chairman: I cannot understand why we do not get the support that we should do. The people who have been helping us are people of small means. We suggest that the Government should take it over and nationalize it straight away. Private enterprise has failed to rise to the occasion. I would like to further mention that Taranaki is very rich in iron deposits; in fact, Mount Egmont is built upon iron-beds. The only known deposits that 1 can specifically mention are the Midhirst deposits. The following is an analysis of clay ironstone from Midhirst, Taranaki, obtained by my late father some years ago: "Silica, 435; alumina, 215; ferrous carbonate, 3770; and ferric oxide, 365 (equal to metallic iron 2075 per cent.); titanic oxide, 0'K); manganese oxide, i'2o; water, 48-80; organic matter, 205." This analysis was made by Dr. Maclaurin, who wrote as follows: "If found in sufficient quantity this should prove a valuable ore for iron-smelting." Dr. Maclaurin also gave the following analysis of limestone from Midhirst : " This is a partially burned limestone of the following composition : Silica, 94; alumina, 1"6; iron oxides, I\S; lime, 557; magnesia, o'3; water of hydration, 190; carbonic acid, 122." Nature has given us suitable coals in close proximity to the ores. The fluxes for the smelting can also be obtained in the district. To Mr. Hornsby: If the Government had a complete test made of the whole thing, so as to set at rest any doubt there might be in the public mind, 1 think that would be a practical solution of the whole question. To Mr. Sidey: Every patent that has been patented for the last twenty years is a direct infringement of our patent, but I am not here to run anybody else's patent down. In the case of one of the other concerns, 1 do not think they put in the right proportion of flux. We only put through a certain amount for demonstration purposes. Our plant is a small demonstration plant. Our object is to demonstrate to any fair-minded individual that we can produce the crude bullion and the crude iron. To Mr. Hornsby: We estimate the cost of producing basic slag to be about £2 10s. per ton. I suggest that £4 10s. a ton would be a fair price at which to put it on the market. We have experimented on a small scale with haematite and this iron-ore. The result was that the Smart Road material was shown to make a very good flux. There is some haematite within about four miles of New Plymouth. To Mr. Graigie: We have found that the local coal gave highly successful results with the addition of gasworks coke. To Dr. A. K. Newman : We have solved the titanium difficulty. To the Chairman : I suggest that the Government should take over the New Zealand Iron-ore and Smelting Company's works and make the necessary tests; that would be fair to everybody, even if they expended £20,000. To Mr. Sidey: The Smelting Company has the plant and we have the process; they will not yield the plant and we will not yield the process. J. T. Quin, Chairman of Directors, Taranaki Farmers' Meat Company (Limited), examined. I believe the Committee wants evidence that will show how the progress and prosperity of the district will lie advanced. As regards our freezing-works, the principal requirements are in respiect to roads and bridges and railway-construction. We want the speedy completion of the Stratford-Ongaruhe main trunk line. We also want the hydro-electric scheme pushed on by the Government, or that New Plymouth should be allowed to go on with it. One of our principal requirements is housing accommodation for our workmen. On account of the industrial unrest all over the Dominion we think that a housing scheme for our married people, under reasonable housing conditions, would to a great extent solve the difficulty. To Mr. Graigie: I think the difficulty might be solved by buying the land at a, reasonable price, and that arrangements should be made similar to the conditions under which the Government lends money, thus enabling men to live within a reasonable distance of the works, an acre