IRON DEPOSITS IN NEW ZEALAND.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 42, 13 November 1907, Page 2

IRON DEPOSITS IN NEW ZEALAND.

MR. TEMPLE'S ATTITUDE. Some weeks ago we published an interview with Mr. Henry Temple on tho Dominion's iron deposits. Mr. T'omplo reviewed the position at some length, and stated his opinions on a number of points. The genoral tone of his remarks regarding the Parapara deposits was that, while tho quality of tho ore was very favourably reported on, the questioii of whether there was. sufficient demand for tho product to warrant the erection of ironworks was quite another matter. Mr. . Temple's views provoked a good deal of adverse comment in Nelson, and now he has written to tho Nelson "Colonist" to explain . that .ho.. has , been misunderstood. In the course'of his letter he'says:—"Thero is one matter that I should like specially to refer to, ■ and that is that The Dominion did not wholly report tho interview as it was taken from me. Even some of the scientific terms and formulae were incorrect; and'while tho interview itself was substantially correct the heading was absolutely at variance and contradictory to tho interview itself." ■ «

Mr. Temple's complaint is accurate in one particular. Wo did not publish the whole of his views. Our space is limited and the portion of his remarks omitted did not affect his main argument. As to the headings put to liis interview, they were as .follow:—" Iron Deposits in New Zealand—Can they be profitably developed?—An Expert says No. The following extracts will show whether the headings were justified by the text of the article. First as to Taranaki ironsand: "Mr. Temple said that the reports which had been received about the character of the Taranaki iron sand were such as to deter any one from engaging in the risky business of developing them. . . . Titanium oxide has been shown to exist in quantities running up as high as 10 per cent, in the Taranaki magnetites, and this percentage is usually ■ considered fatal to the economic smelting ,of the magnetites." Then as to Parapara ore. Mr. Tcmplo was asked: "What about the New Zealand Market? Do ;you think that thero is sufficient demand for the; product to warrant the erection uf ironworks?" Mr. Tcmplo smiled, "Well, in the first place," said he, "it would cost somewhere about £60,000 to establish a modern blast-furnace, of the minimum size, at Para Para. A furnace of that size would eat up about 100 tons of ore every twenty-four hours, and —this is important—you mustn't let your blastfurnace go out or you will ruin it. ' ft must be kept going for years. Your market would require trom such a furnaco not only pig-iron but the necessary molten metal for the manufacture of steel bars. . . ." > " What would it cost to erect tho necessary plant, rolling-mills, etc., for turning out the class of material which we rcquiro here?" asked tho reporter. "It is utterly impossible to answer. I certainly do not think it possiblo to erect blast-furnaces, steel-casting, planing and rolling mills to compass the class of goods imported into tins country. In fact, tho best indication on the question as to whether it would be worth while to do so is found in the volume; of imports in that class of goods to this country." Mr. Temple then proceeded to take the imports for 1905, and arrived at tho following conclusion: — "These figures go to .show that'it is impracticable to treat for tho more expensive lines, and that, therefore, the only work which could be given to tho blast-furuaco would uo under tho first three propositions, aggregating in quantity 27,282 tons, or about six months' work for tho furnace." It will bo noted that in the earlier part of his interview Mr. Templo stated that it was imperatively necessary to keep the blastfurnace (which would cost £60,000) going continuously for years—to stop it would ruin it Next he proceeds to show that the requirements of the Dominion in the product which Parapara could supply would provide work for this furnace—wliich should bo kept going continuously for years—for only six months in each year. Does Mr. Templo protend that this means anything else than condemnation on his part of Parapara as a profitable commercial undertaking? There are other points in the interview which go to show Mr. Temple's then attitude plainly enough, whatever liis views may bo now. Sufficient, however, has been given to prove our justification for the headings used. Thero is only one other matter worth mentioning. Mr. Templo, in a vague kind of way, casts doubts on the accuracy of our report of his remarks, though ho admits that it was substantially correct. It should bo, seeing that it was read over to Mr. Templo and passed by him beforo publication.