SCRAP METAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23191, 10 November 1938, Page 16

SCRAP METAL

METHODS OF DISPOSAL DEALINGS IN WELLINGTON LIFTING OF EMBARGO AWAITED [BY TKMSGIIAPH—"-!*RKS9 ASSOCIATION' 3 WELLINGTON, Wednesday Wellington foundry managers interviewed to-dnv gave varied replies when asked what lias been happening to scrap metal since the Government put an embargo on its export in October last year Some said they were giving their scrap iron and scrap steel ana}, others that they were selling it, and others again that they were using considerable quantities of east iion and were paying up to £5 a ton for it. A scrap metal merchant said he was carting scrap metal away from numerous foundries and storing it pending the time when the embargo would be lifted. Although he was paying the foundries nothing for it. it was costing hi in about £1 a ton for caitage and storage. When selling it overseas before the embargo was imposed, scrap metal cost him about «iOs a ton, as he had to pay the foundries £1 a ton for it. It was a pity metal could not be exported, as scrap iron and scrap steel were in great demand in Australia and he stood to lose a considerable sum of money if the embargo was not lifted.

A great deal of scrap metal was being dumped into city rubbish tips, said the merchant. Railway workshops were using scrap metal, although it was actually only a small percentage of the total they had at their disposal. He expressed the opinion that tho demand for scrap iron and scrap steel would increase considerably if and when the projected Government steel works were opened at Onekalta, One foundry manager reported that he was selling his scrap steel for 10s ii ton and his scrap iron for about £4 a ton. A second manager said there was no market for scrap steel, although lie was selling cast iron at prices ranging up to £3 10s a ton. Another manager said he was paying up to £5 a ton for scrap iron for castings.