ONEKAKA IRON ORE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 58, 6 September 1939, Page 17

ONEKAKA IRON ORE

VALUE FOR DEFENCE

ARMAMENT PRODUCTION

The importance of an iron, and steel plsr>> in any scheme of defence is emphasises ir the report on Onekaka resources pres&situr! to the New Zealand Government by Brassert and Co., who were engaged to investigate the possibility of establishing an industry. The report, which was tabled in the House of Representatives yesterday, is entirely favourable, the finding of the experts being that the reserves of necessary iron-bearing materials, coking coal, limestone, and doiomite are adequate to meet the needs of an industry on -the scale oroposed for a period of 70 years. They also anticipate that further exploration will disclose additional resources.

The experts point out that the iron 3nd steel industry in all countries forms the basis for the manufacture of armaments, and the steel works at Onekaka. can, if desired, be utilised as an integral part in any scheme for the pro r duction of armaments in New Zealand, both as a permanent feature in the scheme of defence, and to make the country less dependent on overseas communications in time of difficulty.

"The steel-making furnaces proposed for installation are of the same type as those used by the producers of armament steels, and with the addition, when required, of a small electric furnace, would be capable of producing any quality "of steel demanded for this purpose," they continue.

"The . rolling mills, without any modification, will be suitable for the rolling of steel into rounds or squares up to an eight-inch dimension. The rounds would furnish the basis for shells and rifle barrels. '

"With the installation of a piercing press billets can be rolled for the production of other types of shell, and with the installation of drop-stamping equipment, billets can be forged into aircraft and motor-car crank shafts, valves, and other parts.

"It is suggested that before the final lay-but of the works is completed consideration should be*-given to the possible correlation of the steel works equipment with the needs of the defence programme, so that provision can be made, if desired, for the installation in correct sequence, and without undue expenditure, of the additional equipment required for such purposes. W|,th the correlation of the steel-mak-ing capacity, the machining equipment of the. engineering shops and the establishment of a filling factory, a considerable contribution could :be made to meet many of the requirements of the defence programme."

The report also says that the location at Onekaka offers the most favourable position for the economic production of steel.

On, the basis of a production of 110,500 tons of pig iron and steel products a year, the experts estimate net earnings of £455,000. They anticipate also that the industry would find permanent employment for two thousand