ONAKAKA IRON.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 11 August 1926, Page 4

ONAKAKA IRON.

COMPETITION FROM INDIA. WHAT THE COAIPANY IS UP AGAINST. (BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, Aug. H. A meeting of the Wellington Industrial Association had before it a letter from the Onakaka Iron and Steel Company, Ltd., setting forth how its endeavours to build up an iron and steel manufacturing industry in New Zealand were being hampered. The letter stated that--the company had been compelled to reduce its hands from 70 to eight at the Onakalca works, owing to large quantities of pig iron coming to New Zealand, largely from India, where it- was produced by labour costing Is 6d to 2s per day,' as compared with 14s to lbs paid by the company. A representative of the Department of Industries who was present stated that the company’s plant was a very fine one. Workmen’s homes had been erected in the vicinity, with a school, making quite a township. A wharf also had been erected. Afany thousands of pounds had been spent, and it was shameful that the company should now have such severe competition to face. New Zealand engineers had benefited by the bonus given by the Government, and the result was a cheapening of iniDorted iron. Onakaka iron was as good' as any imported into New Zealand. The chairman said that the association would do its best to see what assistance could he given.