USE OF COAST IRONSAND

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28937, 3 July 1959, Page 12

USE OF COAST IRONSAND

Question Asked 'By Mr Kent IBy pur Parliamentary H eport er I WELLINGTON, July 2. A plea for consideration of West Coast resources in any in-'

vestigation into' the possibilities of a steel industry based on ironsands was contained in a question by Mr J. B. Kent (Government, Westland) addressed to the Minister in charge of Scientific and Industrial Research (Mr Holloway) in the House of Representatives this afternoon. Mr Kent asked the Minister if he would ensure that in investigations for the steel industry the fullest consideration should be given to the iron deposits on the West Coast from Haast to Karamea, “which it Is claimed contain valuable deposits of secondary minerals that could add to the economies of the industry and the progressive development of the South Island.” In a note to the question, Mr Kent said: “We have large deposits of coal and existing transport facilities, combined with accessibility to many millions of tons of raw material which could ensure the success of this undertaking.”

Mr E. P. Aderman (Opposition, New Plymouth) also gave notice of a question on ironsands. He asked Mr Holloway whether he could report on the progress of negotiations relative to the use of ironsand deposits for the manufacture of steel, and requested that if any contracts binding upon the Crown were to be entered into, Parliament should be given an opportunity to discuss the terms and provisions beforehand.