OUR INDUSTRIES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 205, 24 May 1919, Page 8

OUR INDUSTRIES

THE PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY SOME LOCAL CONCERNS The Parliamentary Industries Committee concluded its sittings in Wellington yesterday for the present at any rate. Mr. C. H. Wilkinson presided. Dr. S. M'Laurin, Government Analyst, gave evidence regarding (he production of industrial alcohol from wasto wood in New Zealand, especially from sawdust, and also from other products, His opinion was that the main source from which alcohol could bo made i was wood, either by the direct treatment of sawdust or other wasto wood, or by the fermentation of tho wasto' liquors from tho sulphite prooess of wood-pulp manufacture. Ho considered that the possibility of the manufacture of industrial alcohol was sufficient to warrant investigation. Ho did' not givo much hopo of the' profitable manufacturo of alcohol from suoh substances as molasses (because of short supply), waste fruit (bpcause of transport cost), and potatoes (because other more profitable crops may bo obtained from our ground). _ Br. M'Laurin gavo evidence also about iron ores. He dispelled a popular oilsconception ' "by saying that there was but little difference between Taranaki and Farapara ores, as they were about equal in iron content, and equal also in phosphorus content. There was too much phosphorus for the production of steel by the Bessemer or acid process. Tho basio process would have to bo used, and tho phosphorus content was. unfortunately too low to make the by-product basic slag unless as a fertiliser. He held out no < hope of the deposits at either placo being profitably worked in New Zealand at present owing to the high cost of labour and coal. This, however, was a question for an expert.in iron smelting as a commercial enterprise. Referring to the smelting of tho tilaniferous ore of Taranaki, he said that there was a process by which this could bo done, and good pig-iron could bo made by it. It -would not be possible to make good steel from Taranaki ores without using the "basic process in the usual way. With Tegtird to Orepuki shale ho said that methods were under investigation for getting rid of sulphur in these oils, and when they were developed tho shale deposits, in other respects of high quality, would be valuable. Light Railways. ■ Mr. F. W. Eurkert. Assistant Public Works Engineer, was asked to give eviuence regarding tli3 utilisation of light railways, possibly obtainable from the war tracks in France. Ho agreed that light railways might be preferable in some districts to roads. .But the Department had already tried its best through its own engineer now at the front to get material for light railways, but could get nothing. His own opinion was that there had been so much destruction in tho zone of war that everything thuro now would be required. He discussed generally the possibility of using light railways alongside of the roads, • His opinion was very definite that theso railways would never take the placo 6f the roads that some of the cost of road maintenance might be saved, but not-by ant means all of the cost. In any ease, the cost of laying' a track beside a road would mean always the widening of tho road, which, might cost as much as "laving a track on another route. In (Jatlins district, where tho toads were bad and there was no metal, a wooden tram, way had been laid, and it had been a complete failure. He did not agree lliat the light railway was out of date or that it would be cheaper to make the roads good enough for motor traction, but lie insisted that the operation of lijfht railways should not ho handed over to tho Railway Department, 1 operating the standard railways, the reason being that the Department would naturally insist to operate tho tight railways by (he same rules and methods' as the standard railways.' For this reason ho would advise, that light railways should be under local management, either by a local authority or a private contractor. Per ton mile it would always cost more to carry freight by a motor lorry than by a railway. It was a question wholly of tho amount of freight to be carried. Protection Against Dumping. John llutcheson appeared to modify his evidence regarding the manufacture of asbestos roofing slates. He had learned sinco giving his evidence that Australia had put a ring-fence protection round itself with preferonco to Britain, and Mew Zealand did not eoine within the British category. Now Zealand was an alien to Australia in the mutter of Customs duty. The protection had induced British firms to operate in Australia, and these firms were dumping their surplus in New Zealand. That was an undoubted fact. They were selling their product at £4i a thousand in Sydney and at ,£2U f.o.b. for export to New Zealand. This had altered his attitude towards protect ion for his company. If no protection could bo given next session, and they had to wait for eighteen months, his litlle company would bo "safely under the daisies." Tt would ho the case of "another local industry gone wrong." He asked the committee to rpeommeud , a. proteclive tariff, because his company could not compete with the Australian product at the present dumped price. Butler Packages. Mr. D. Cuddie, Direotor of the Dairy Division, was called to givo an- opinion on a cylindrical butter package submitted to the committee. He ?aid that there were strong reasons for keeping tho present box, which -was known as tho Now Zealand package on the Homo -market. He submitted a design in two-ply for tho making of an oblong box, similar in anpearanco to tho present box. Of this latter box a trial shipment was being made, and a similar trial might be mado of the cylindrical package. The Commission left for Wairarapit yesterday afternoon, It will meet hero on I Tuesday.