ALLEGED INJUSTICE

Otago Witness, Issue 3335, 13 February 1918, Page 39

ALLEGED INJUSTICE

THE SCHEELITE DISPUTE. ANOTHER DEPUTATION. New Zealand's producers of scheelite (a mineral used to harden steel for special purposes) continue to complain' that they are being treatly unjustly by the Imperial Government, or by subordinates acting in tho name of that Government. Towards the end of last session the House of Representatives adopted a recommendation of the Mines Committee that the scheelite producers' request for fair treatment should be referred to the Government for " favourable consideration," Tho petitioners submitted' that if tho Imperial Government—which waa then unwilling to pay more than 55s c.i.f. a unit for Now Zealand's scheelite —would not agree to pay the market value, 90s, the local producers should be allowed to ship scheelite to one of Great Britain's allies —America or France —on an understanding that the scheelite would be used in the making of the steel required by war factories. Since then a vague message has been received from London indicating, apparently, that the Imperial authorities would agree to pay 60s a unit (30s less than the price requested). Therefore another deputation of representatives of scheelite companies called on the Minister of Mines (the Hon. W. D. S. MacDonald) last week to urge again that the Imperial Government shouU give fair heed to the present cost of production in tho dominion. The chairman and secretary of one large companv said that in 10 years it had spent £IOO,OOO. and had paid only £3700 in dividends. The company would require 70s a unit for sheelite to pay actual expenses. In reply to a question whether the Imperial Government had definitely put an embargo on the export of scheelite, except to Great Britain, the Minister said: "Yes, practically." He offered no hope that permission would bo granted to ship scheelito to America or any other ally of Great Britain. According to the Minister's remarks, the Imperial authorities are unwilling to raise the price for scheelito in New Zealand because they fear that other countries of the Empire might then press for an increase. The local producers have replied that they, with tho handicap of high cost of production, should not be compelled to suffer injustice on that account. After hearing evidence against the attitude of tho Imperial authorities, the Minister stated that he was " convinced that the New Zealand producers were not trying to make undue profits." He promised that another cable message would be sent to London, summarising the case presented by the deputation.