MINERAL RESOURCES.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 30, Issue 22, 19 March 1918, Page 4

MINERAL RESOURCES.

A PLEA FOR GREATER DEVELOP MENT.

A paper on the natural resources of a mineral character available in New Zealand was read to members of the Central Chamber of Commerce, Wellington, last week by Mr Lionel Nelson (reports the “Times,") Mr Nelson said that the mineral resources of New Zealand had not been worked as fully as they could have been. The war had shown generally throughout the British Empire the extent of the nation’s unpreparedness. This unpreparedness was exemplified in the neglect of fully realising the mineral resources of the country. Private enterprise had not received sufiicicnt encouragement in New Zealand and this had been a big drawback in the development of the industries of the Dominion. What was needed by the Government now was research work and practical application of the results. There should be an improvement in the relations between Capital and Labour. This was essential for the free development of industries. Further, New Zealand wanted a complete development of hydro-electric power. The application of electricity to mineral resources was badly needed. New Zealand’s undeveloped mineral resources were great and with proper encouragement from the Government the Dominion should be able to lay the foundation for a prosperous future.

Mr L. A. Edwards dealt with the Labour aspect of the question. To him it was incomprehensible that Labour should be opposed to the help given it by scientific machinery. | There was no doubt that Capital was largely to blame for the present attitude of Labour. He believed that Labour should be propel ly educated sc that it would realise the absurdity of the destructive attitude to the employer. Mr F. Holmes made a plea for Government assistance for the development of Taranaki ironsand.

Mr C. M. Luke said ■ that Germany provided an object as to how the Government could arrange for the banking institutions to assist in the industrial activity of the country. He believed that a new order of things was coming in which the Government and the banking institutions would realise that their interest in a country was wrapped up with concerns which desired its development. Of vital importance to the industries of any country was cheap motor power. New Zealand was in a line position for encouraging industries here, granting Government assistance in development of this power and the placing qf it cheaply at the disposal of enterprising concerns. Mr Nelson briefly replied to the comments made on his paper.