ONAKAKA IRON

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 132, 2 December 1930, Page 12

ONAKAKA IRON

INDUSTRY WITH A FUTURE

Greatly impressed by the possibilities of the Onakaka Iron and Steel Works, and the cement works at Tarakohe, the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. A. J. Murdoch) returned to Wellington to-day from a visit to the Nelson and Motueka districts. The Minister took advantage of the opportunity of closely inspecting the iron and steel works, which are subsidised' by the Government, and he is satisfied that there is a great future ahead of the industry. There is an ample supply of iron- ore in the district, and the works are working at a good pressure. In addition to manufacturing pipes, the company produces and sells pig iron to the iron foundries throughout the Dominion. In addition, the company recently shipped COO tons of iron ore to Australia in the hope of finding a market to keep the plant in operation. The quality of the iron was such that repeat orders were received in every instance. Mr. Murdoch stated that the people in the Nelson and Motueka districts did not appear to be feeling the effects of the depression to such an extent as was the case elsewhere. This, he thought, was due to the fact that there were such a number of small industries in'operation there to keep the people occupied.