Iron and Steel Bill Passed

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 60, 12 March 1938, Page 5

Iron and Steel Bill Passed

Opposition Sceptical of Venture COMMISSIONERS NOT NAMED AS YET Per Press Association. WELLINGTON. Last Night. In the House this afternoon urgency was accorded the passing of the Iron and Steel Industry Bill on the motion of tho Prime Minister and the House proceeded to consider the Bill in committee stages. Mr. R. A. Wright (Opp.—Wellington Suburbs) considered tho Minister was launching his barque on a very hazardous sea. Plant and machinery would be very expensive and was continually gettiug out of date. New Zealand was tco small to consume the products from a first-class plant which could turn out all tho iron and steel New Zealand needed in six months. The Government would have this £5,000.000 and another £5,000,000 on top of it. he added. Mr. S. G. Smith (Opp.—New Plymouth) said the undertaking could have been established for less than half of the £5,000,000 which the Government proposed to spend. He asked the Minister what knowledge he had of the iron and steel industry and said they should have some further information as to where the plant was to be located. The Government was rushing headlong into a scheme which would be a complete failure. The Minister of Industries and Commerce (Hon. D. G. Sullivan) remarked that it was a pity that the member for New Plymouth did not give a little more serious thought to the question. Mr. Smith: Don’t be silly! Mr. Sullivan: A Bill of this importance demands serious consideration. Mr. Smith: Don’t lose your temper! Mr. Sullivan: I think the hon. gentleman is losing his temper. He is afraid of what I am going to say. Mr. Smith: You know nothing about it. Mr. Sullivan: I will not ask for an apology. I will leave it at that. Tho Minister added that Brasscrts had recommended a suitable plant for New Zealand conditions. Inquiries were being made for a self-discharging vessel for the . transort of coal. They wanted a properly-designed ship equipped in such a way that it would contribute most effectively to the efficiency of the undertaking. Mr. S. G. Holland (Opp.—Christchurch North): How many ships? The Minister: One ship is contemplated. Two will be needed for the distribution of the finished product, but we have not given consideration to whether there will be a Governmentowned ship used for distribution, but it will bo necessary to have one ship to carry our coal.

Mr. W. P. Endcan (Opp.—Parnell) asked if Brasserts had taicen into consideration high wages and social conditions in New Zealand when making

tneir estimates. Mr. {Sullivan: Yes. Mr. H. JS. 8. Kyle (Opp.—Riccarton) said lie had Heard outside the House that the commissioners provided for in the Bill had already been selected. He thought the Minister should take the people into his confidence and tell them who the commissioners were. The Minister of Finance (Hon. W. Nasn;, replying to a question by the leader of the Opposition (Hon. A. Hamilton) said the reason tho Government had not negotiated with the Ouckaka cople was because it was faced with tlie option ijent by them for £159.0UU on iron ore deposits and this option proved an insurmountable oostacie to negotiations. Hon. D. G. Sullivan,. answering another question by tfie leader of the Opposition, stated ho was unable to say at present whether tnere would be one, two or three commissioners. These commissioners would take the place of tho ordinary director of a business, as would be appointed m tne case of a private enterprise. There were no names as yet in the Government’s mind as to who the commissioners would be. The short title was passed at 5.20 p.m. and the remaining clauses of the Bill were put through with the utmost dispatch, the House going on with business after the usuai tea hour at 5.30 until 5.38, when the Bill was read a third time and passed. During the committee stages several slight amendments to the clauses dealing with compensation, which were designed to strengthen them, were approved.