SITE FOR IRON WORKS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22304, 19 January 1938, Page 8

SITE FOR IRON WORKS

♦— —- INTEREST IN WESTPORT COMMENT ON STATEMENT BY PRIME MINISTER [THE PRESS Special Service.] WESTPORT, January 18. The statement by the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) that the Government is considering the reopening of the iron ore deposits at Onekaka has aroused considerable interest in Westport because it is considered this district has strong claims, from the economic point of view, to be the best location in the Dominion for steel works. „ “I am sorry that Mr Savage did not give some indication of what site or sites the Government had in mind for steel works,” said the Mayor of Westport (Mr J. Kilkenny) when interviewed by a representative of “The Press” yesterday. ‘‘"While I arn not selfish enough to argue that the works should be built in Westport if it can be proved that steel can be manufactured cheaper elsewhere in New Zealand, I would point out that the Government’s expert advisers have so far completely failed to make any effective answer to the strong arguments put forward from this district in support of his contention that cheap costs of manufacture could best be achieved by locating the works at Westport alongside the Buller coalfields, rather than selecting another site that would mean shipping coal to the blast furnaces. “I do not in any way pretend to be able to speak with authority on the technical side of steel production, but as it seems to be agreed that two tons of coal are needed to smelt one ton of ore then surely a child could understand that it must be cheaper to transport the ore instead of the coal. “It has also been suggested that the Buller coals alone are not suitable for smelting purposes. If that is so it is time <he experts came forward and stated where our argument to the contrary is wrong. “Too Much Secrecy” “There seems to have been far too much secrecy over this matter, and it would be more satisfactory if the expert advice by which I presume the Government will be guided was made public, so that if any of. the statements made by those experts are open to challenge an opportunity should be given for the fullest consideration o- alternative and possibly better proposals. “It has already been clearly established that at least one expert report made to the Department of Industries and Commerce has been inadequate and, furthermore, has contained many inaccurate statements and conclusions concerning the Buller coals, the Westport harbour, and Westport generally as a site for steel works. All we want is a full and fair hearing for Westport’s claims, and it would appear that the only way that can be obtained is for the whole of the expert advice made to the Government on this important matter to be made public. “When Colonel White, the Australian Trade Minister, was here, he emphasised the necessity of establishing the steel industry on sound economic lines if.it was to be a success, and it seems strange that consideration should be given to sites at considerable distance from coal when everywhere else in the world the ore is transported to the coal.”