N.Z.’S STEEL SHORTAGE

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25390, 13 January 1948, Page 8

N.Z.’S STEEL SHORTAGE

MR SEMPLE TO VISIT AUSTRALIA EFFORTS TO OBTAIN SUPPLIES From Our Own Reporter WELLINGTON, January 12. In an effort to obtain badly-needed supplies of steel for New Zealand, the Minister of Works (Mr R. Semple* will leave Wellington on a visit to Australia in the second week in February. Mr Semple, for whom an itinerary has not yet been fixed, is going to Canberra to meet Cabinet Ministers and departmental heads, and will also meet directors and representatives of the Broken Hill Proprietary Company. New Zealand’s steel shortage was explained by Mr Semple during discussion on his department’s estimates. The position, which was then bad, has since become serious. The main problem is that the steel supplies that are in the country are being used almost exclusively by the Government in its various hydro-electric and other major development schemes. For all other enterprises there are practically no supplies. The Government, in an effort to obtain more supplies from the Australian pool, upon which there is a heavy drain in the Commonwealth, has decided that it is best that Mr Semple should make personal representations to the interested authorities. During the Estimates, Mr Semple said he would “sit on the doorstep in Aus ? tralia” until he secured the supplies needed. This method he has adopted with success on previous occasions in Australia.

To-night, Mr Semple left Wellington by the steamer express for Christchurch. While in Canterbury he will visit the Tekapo and Pukaki hydroelectric development schemes.