RESTRICTION OF TIN PRODUCTION

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 93, 13 January 1939, Page 8

RESTRICTION OF TIN PRODUCTION

Working Of Interriational

Agreement

Dominion Special Service.

AUCKLAND, January 12.

World restriction of tin production was the subject of comment by Mr, S. G. Lyon, a mining engineer at present engaged in tin production in Siam, who arrived by the Maetsuycker to visit his wife and family in Christchurch. Mr. Lyon was born in Central Otago, where he received his dredging experience, and after working for some years in Malaya, he returned to New Zealand and worked near Murchison for about three years. He took up his present position in Siam about 14 months ago.

“The situation now is that companies producing tin have had to cut down their operations till they are using only about three-quarters of their plant,” Mr. Lyon said. “In 1930 a tin restriction agreement was entered into by the four tin-producing countries— Malaya, the Netherlands East Indies, Bolivia and Nigeria—and under this agreement, in view of depressed markets, only a proportion of the amount marketed in 1929 was produced. Since then the four countries have been continually decreasing the amount of tin produced. The committee which decides the amount nominates six weeks ahead what is to be produced, and bases its figures on the 1929 figures. This body was set up in 1930."