TRADE OPENINGS

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 99, 26 April 1917, Page 8

TRADE OPENINGS

SUGGESTIONS FOR NEW ZEALAND

SPEECH BY SER T. MACKENZIE.

(FROM OUR OWN dORRESfONDENT.)

LONDON, 27tli February.

The High Commissioner presided ovei the first meeting of tho newly constituted Now Zealand Committee of the Imperial Institute, ,the attendance including Lord Islington, Professor Dunston, Mr. J. H. B. Coates, Mr. R. D. D. M'Lean, Mr. R. H. Nolan, and Mr. J. C. N. Grigg. ■ ■

In explaining -why this new body hatl ' been formed Sir T. Mackenzie said that the Imperial Institute Management Act' had recently been passed, largely reconstituting the Institute. It was felt that the Institute had got out of touch not only wfth the Old Country but also the Overseas Dominions through not making known the extent of its work.

The Act would bring new life into the Institute, and theao new committees would be of great value to the Empire as a whole. There were many industries in New Zealand the by-products of which should be further investigated. Hemp,' for instance, ought to bo put to uses beyond those to which it was now applied. Ho felt sure there were valuable, openings in connection with New Zealand timbers, while .science was demonstrating the proper ties contained in New Zealand wool, from which potash and valuable oils, it was said, could be obtained. New Zealand undoubtedly contained a considerable amount of potash, and he was expecting shortly to receive sampSes of mica-schist. The Institute had kindly offered to analyse the samples in order to acertain the proportion' of potash they contained, and ad-vise on the best methods of handling the article as a marketable commodity in view of the closing of the German supply. Sir Thomas referred to the wood-pulp industry, kauri gum, and amber, and New Zealand minerals such as petroleum and scheelito.

The necessity had been forced upon the Empire of being much more self-con-tained than formerly. The Imperial Institute had now the opportunity to bring into use the efficient organisation already formed. It could dead with raw materials, analyse them, demonstrate their uses, and show their economic value.

Lord Islington observed that New Zealand had demonstrated in many ways, especially co-operatively, what could be done in certain industries, and tho operations of the Dominion could be taken as a guide to older communities. He threw out the suggestion that the New Zealand court should be enlarged, and diagrams displayed, setting forth what had been achieved with Dominion industries.