PREMIER AND INDUSTRIES OF NEW ZEALAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16569, 5 June 1914, Page 10

PREMIER AND INDUSTRIES OF NEW ZEALAND.

' —e—< 10 TUB EDITOR. Sir,—ln an interview at Dunedin the other day the Hon the Premier statod that his Government were prepared to help the fruit industry materially. Of course, growing apples moans years of cultivation and a foreign market, but every person in New Zealand would gladly welcome a wonderful industry of this kind.

Mr Massey has, however, lost sight of an important industry which is at present languishing throughout the dominion, tii a; is, the iron in dustily. Tho men lynnt bigger wages, and all tho ironmasters of New Zealand say they cannot afford to give it to them. If we could get cheap iron in the dominion our foundries and engineers, agricultural implement makers, boilermakers could compete on more equal terms with the outside markets.

A bounty on the pi eduction of pigiron, rails, bars, etc., from our iron ore would mean a filip to tho whole of the industry throughout tho dominion. It is the greatest labour-user of nil in the industries in the world, 75 per cent of tiio gros3 product going m wages. a The Reform Government in 1912 and various members of Cabinet since have stated that a bonus would be given, but wo in Now Zealand want to know when. Time is passing, and I learn from the man in tho street that the establishment of this great industry only wants a. fair offer of assistance from tho Government. If that is so, I again ask when is that assistance going to bo made? As a user of iron I am heartily sick of being at the mercy of fho daily fluctuations of raw iron in ether parts, Rnd there are many thousands of people in New Zealand who aro watching for the day when wc will produce our own iron and turn it into the thousand and one things we all use and want.—l am, etc., AN IRONWORKER.