WORLD'S METALS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 69, 23 March 1937, Page 7

WORLD'S METALS.

EMPIRE AS SOURCE.

Germany, Italy and Japan

Lack Supplies.

NICKEL INDISPENSABLE.

LONDON, March'l9.

"War may not pay, but rearmament does if you hold the right shares. Buy International Nickels." That was said by a London financier 18 months ago when the price was /£2 16/ a share. Now they are at £14 12/.

Nickel is an indispensable armament metal. Canada, in which the International Company's interests lie, has almost a world monopoly. Germans can make many synthetic products, but not synthetic metals. Three Powers— the Empire, Russia, and the United States—produce most of the world's metals.

Such is the Empire's superabundance of munition metals, that it can supply them for the rearmament of other nations. France has large supplies of iron ore, some of which goes to Germany. France has some nickel from New Caledonia, but lacks other munition metals. Germany's Lack. Germany, Italy, and Japan are the Powers most poorly supplied. Germany imports iron ore, copper, sine, lead, nickel, and tin. Italy has some iron ore, but lacks the other metals.

Both Germany and Italy hope to supply their needs partly from the Balkans, especially from Yugoslavia. Japan draws iron ore and munition metals mainly from the Empire.

All this suggests that the Imperial Conference will examine the Empire's future needs, and its policy in relation to its resources in considering defence and rearmament. .