POTENTIAL WEALTH

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 144, 20 August 1941, Page 2

POTENTIAL WEALTH

N..Z's MINERAL RESOURCES

DEPOSITS O'F ALUMINA

Few have interested themselves" in the cast deposits of natural mineral resources in this country, but those who have can vouch for the potential riches which have yet to be wrung from the soil. Industries can w: founded which will employ thousands yet these great assets have been neglected, unexploited and abandoned. It has been suggested, that commercial pressure from interests in other countries has been responsible lor New Zealand's disregard for the development of her minerologica] wealth, but this jealousy lias to I.e proved and in any case the time Tor monopolies is past.

The Hon. Mr Holland, Lead.er of he Opposition struck a strong not* In the House recently when he referred to the great opening for industry in New Zealand, by the production of aluminium. The potentialities this metal affords cannot be ignored. Some years ago an investigator who was interested in the matter came across an outcrop of bauxite which was 95 per cent, pure. After taking samples of clays from the surrounding district which were also of high alumina •ontent he w 7 as forced by eircum>tances to let the whole matter tlrop. The fact remains. that thesr* great deposits exist and are only vwaiting exploitation. The following letter to a metropolitan paper from the newly constituted Light Metal's League, lia: 'i strong bearing on the subject. "This league has successful tv campaigned to foster the idea of istablisliing in New Zealand a large ruminium-producing industry. Power would be obtained from the great Southland fiord liydro-electric potential. and we contend that our Indigenous clays should be utilised is a basis for alumina instead of cmporting the ore (bauxite) fioni the Dutch East Indies. Such an industry would be an achievement of Tustanding imperial and national importance. The Empire would obtain light metal for Spitfires, and the Dominiofi would acquire an .economic buttress of tremendous strength, providing overseas exchange and work at home.

The Government is considering representations all eady made 1 y i.he league as to the unlimited possibilities of New Zealand electricity md clay. We have already collected a great deal of data and information on the whole subject, and a central intelligence bureau has been set up in Ghristchurch to collate further facts."