OPPOSITION MOVE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22984, 11 March 1938, Page 11

OPPOSITION MOVE

INFORMATION WANTED

COMPLETE INVESTIGATION

PROSPECTS OF INDUSTRY

DEFEAT OF AMENDMENT

[by TELEGIt/UMI SPECIAL ItEI'ORTEII] WELLINGTON, Thursday

More detailed information as to economic prospects was sought in an amendment to the second reading of tho Iron and Steel Industry Bill which was moved by Mr. W. P. Eudean (Opposition—Parnell) in the House of Representatives to-night. The amendment gave recognition to the desirability of establishing a modern iron and steel works-on a sound basis in New Zealand, but put forward the view that the best interests of the country would be served if tho industry was conducted by private enterprise.

It was suggested that the hill 'should be referred back to the Government for further and more complete investigation by tin independent authority, with a view to determining whether the industry could bo successfully established in New Zealand and in order that there could he .made available tc Parliament and to the country all the reports, technical data and other relative information on which the Govern merit based its decision to spent £5,000,000 of public money. A fimi point included in the amendment w.l that there should be a further explor ation of the possibilities of the industr; being established by private enterprise

In moving tho amendment Mr. Endean said the information before the House whs pathetically incomplete. It would pay the Government to obtain opinions from British, Australian and American experts before proceeding with its plans, even if the cost ran to £IO.OOO.

The amendment was seconded by the Hon. J. G. Cobbe (Opposition—Oroua). On being put to the vote the amendment was lost by 45 votes to 18, and the Minister of Industries and Commerce, tho Hon. I). G. Sullivan, immediately rose to reply to tho second reading debate. Tho Minister said the Government's decision to operate the industry was based on the reports of Brassert and Company, the foremost consultants in the world. The reason why all the reports had not been made public was that it was proposed to obtain further advice and recommendations from the firm before actual operations were commenced. The bill was road a second time, but as soon as the House went into committee progress was reported, and the adjournment was taken.

FENCING POST SUPPLIES

USE OF EXOTIC TIMBERS CREOSOTING TREATMENT [by telegraph—special reporter] WELLINGTON, Thursday • An announcement that the Government was installing creosoting plants in Rotorua, North Canterbury and Southland for the treatment of fencing posts cut from exotic timbers was made by the Commissioner of State Forests, the Hon. F. Langstone, in reply to an urgent question asked by Mr. W. J. Broadfoot (Opposition—Waitomo) in the House of Representatives to-day. It was expected, said Mr. Langstone, that these plants would be operating before the end of this year.

Reference to the scarcity of good fencing posts was made by Mr. Broadfoot, who pointed out that they wore far too dear to enable fences to be erected. Ho asked the Minister if lie would take steps to enable approved contractors to obtain supplies of posts from State forests for the farming community. " It is already the policy of the Government to enable approved contractors to obtain supplies oT fencing posts from State} forests where suitable material is available, subject to the payment of the prescribed royalties," said Mr. Langstone. " livery encouragement is offered for the splitting and sawing of suitable material, but there is some reluctance on the part of farmers to use the lesser known timbers, such as red and hard beech, with the result that the prices for the better known species, such as totara and silver pine, have become very dear. " A much wider use of the two beech timbers mentioned would enable fencing to be carried out at a much lower figure and yet with extreme satisfaction, both timbers having excellent durability. While the durability may not be as high as silver pine or the best of totara, it will often be found to exceed much of the totara at present being used "