SWEDEN.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18151, 14 August 1924, Page 11

SWEDEN.

INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT i INTERESTING PARTICULARS. | I '.SrECIAL TO "IES r?.l»2.''} ' WELLINGTON. August 13. ! Interesting particulars .itlating W : Swedish industrial' development were given before the Wellington Chamber of Commerce; to-dr.y by Mr S.' H. : Bu-ch. A.M.I.E.E. He said Sweden's j industrial development was closely j associated with her natural resources, j which formed tho baiis of her nidus- J trie.-:, The countiy contained huge do- ! .posits of iron ore and immense forests, j It was also blessed with great rivore | snd waterfalls, through which they had ' 'ueen able tu get xhean power for in- I dustrioi. The fotxsts h.-.d" been able to j ci'kc good use of tiie waterways, with- < out which l!io transport vi timber i Viouid not have been a. commercial pro- | posHion. They had 16.000 miles or j watcrwoys,. 82 million acres of forests i and had h?niesseti tix million h.p. frcni w.::tcr power. Th'ey- had been fortunate in -having :\ Governinont which had looked s.het'.d in industrial and educational TmiUcr.s.- 'I lie i;copic looked to the Government to provitto roads, i goo-J railroads .'.nd cheap power, and, ) some.years a,ao it bought un the principal waterfalls with that end in view, | developing the power on wise lines. ' Apparently the New Zealand Govern- j ment held similar views in regard to utilising w:iter power, and he was sure it viould be a great'benefit to 'the. I>o- | nunion.. ;

The development of power in Sweden had helped thcrn to develop the natural resources,, and .-ni electrical railway ran SCO miles inland to bring iron ore to the coast, . Over 10C0' millions tons of iron ore were in sight, but, the largest 'deposits h:id only "been worked for the 'last 30 years. The "Forestry- Department was capable and insisted, on reafforestation -where trees were cut down even on private property, so that a new crop was ready in 30.years. The. pig ii-e-n industry' was the oldest in Sweden, and in the' sixteenth century the Swedes were the largest iron producers in the world. Years ago steel was produced by tho use c-f charcoal, and although more modern methods -were used in other countries, Swedish steel still was regarded sis of the highest quality and used all over the world for edged tools. W 7 ood pulping, electricity and machine tool industries had developed in the last three decades of thelast- century, and for the extraction of nitrogen from the air hsilf n million horse power were- devoted to this alone. He understood similar steps were to be taken'in-the 'Domqnon before long, and it was impossible to estimate its value in peace, war and agriculture.

Sweden had. 11,000 factories whoso products were worth £250,000,000 per annum. Special work included da:ry and agricultural. machinery Tho telephone was in'general use. The match industry was a hugo one, 18 million boxes daily being "turned out, all made and packed by msibhincry. Last year Swedish imports totalled 77 millions sterling and exports 67 millions. Labour was in a gpod position, being fairly paid and well" housed. The country also., produced groat athletes. He had travelled -Now Zealand from one end to the other and it was remarkably likeSweden in'the problems it had to face in the . development- of. power, transit and resources. • •"".'•

The company Mr Busch' represents has. just secured a. large contract in connexion with the Arapuni hydro-eloo-tric scheme.- • -■