IRON AND STEEL INDUSTRY

Evening Star, Issue 22987, 18 June 1938, Page 16

IRON AND STEEL INDUSTRY

THE PRELIMINARY WORK NUCLEUS OF NEW DEPARTMENT [Per United Press Association.] NELSON, dune 18. The Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr Sullivan), in an interview at Takaka to-day, referred to the published statement recently made by him to the effect that no major steps in regard to the iron and steel industry would he taken until survey work on the deposits of iron ore and coal had been carried to a point where he had the engineers’ and surveyors’ evidence of proved ore and coal, its exact location, and the result of sampling. He stated that this work, and other preliminary work (such as the mapping of the sea bed at Onekaka) was being carried out as expeditiously as possible, and discussions were taking place with the Government’s consulting engineers in London in regard to certain technical questions. This work required considerable organisation, and as the evidence collected would form the basis on which the ultimate organisation would grow and major decisions be made, the Government bad deemed it advisable to form a separate department, which would be called the State Iron and Steel Department. As outlined in the Act, commissions would be responsible for the administration of the Act, and successful working of the industry. The Minister in charge ol the State Iron and Steel Department and of the commissions would, however, lay down the policy, and would be in close touch with all major decisions and developments in the industry. In view of the Government's decision, the nucleus of the new department had been arranged by the Public Service Commissioners, and it would in future operate under the designations of “ State Iron and Steel Department ” and ‘‘lron and Steel Commission.” It would for some time be a small organisation only, and would' be responsible for the co-ordination of all the preliminary work, and for ensuring that all necessary evidence was obtained, so that when major decisions in regard to the construction programme, etc., had to be made, the Minister and the commissions could make such decisions immediately on the facts and .evidence that had been obtained independently by their own organisations.