RAW MATERIALS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23200, 26 May 1937, Page 7

RAW MATERIALS

*, THE WORLD'S SUPPLIES IMPORTANCE TO PEACE SURVEY BY DR G. C. BILLING The place in the maintenance of peace and in economic development occupied by the world's supplies of raw materials was discussed by Dr G. C. Billing, lecturer in economics at the University of Otago, in a lecture last evening to the Otago branch of the New Zealand League of Nations Union. The address took the form of a survey of the world's sources of raw materials, where they had been found, why they were necessary to industrial progress, and who benefited most from the big deposits. The meeting was presided over by Dr E. N. Merrin«ton. "AT A LOW EBB" "Dr T. Z. Koo has reminded us that the stocks of peace are at a low ebb at present," Dr Billing said.' "It might be more true that the stocks of the League of Nations are even lower. The great problem to-day is how to influence the world towards peace and so to strengthen the League. There is one method that can be used more extensively than it has been so far—the aim of teaching the people of the world that peace pays best, that adequate machinery to maintain peace would enable all countries to develop themselves economically to the highest possible levels." It was alleged that the stronger countries of the world had such a strong grip on the supplies of raw materials that the weaker countries could not obtain their needs. "That is a direct challenge to the League." Dr Billing said. Dr Billing emphasised that his address was a preliminary to a discussion on the principles of raw materials as a problem affecting world peace. Raw materials, he said, were commodities that were essential to the world's manufacturing needs. "At the base of it all lies mechanical power," he continued. "Mechanical power rules the world, but at the back of the power are the minerals that minister to itcoal, oil, and iron in particular." To those three commodities he added cotton, rubber and copper, all materials for supplies of which the' big nations of the world were thirsting. Dr Billing divided raw materials into two groups—natural products, which were not replaceable by man, and those derived from crops. These groups were further subdivided and classified, and Dr Billing used a map of the world to illustrate the sites of the world's main mineral deposits. THE COLONIAL QUESTION " When we think particularly of rubber, vegetable oils and fats, we naturally think of colonies, a word of dread import-in the world to-day," he said. "Now the question of raw material supplies and the colonial question have to a great extent to be taken together." Quoting percentage production figures to show where the main mineral deposits of the world had been found, Dr Billing discussed the great coal and iron zones in America and Canada, Western Europe and Russia, and the petroleum fields of America. Europe, and the East Indies. For important supplies of other minerals, it was necessary to cruise over most of the world, but Dr Billing detailed comparative supplies from national States and colonies. . The question of ownership involved an investigation of the activities of capitalists. There were only comparatively rare instances of Governments owning mineral fields and developing them themselves, Russia being the outstanding example. "Freedom of access for all parties is the basis of even world development,': Dr. Billing concluded, "and that is something that can come only with adequate machinery for the maintenance of peace." A vote of thanks to Dr Billing was carried on the motion of the chairman.