WORLD’S STEEL CENTRE

Taranaki Daily News, 22 August 1930, Page 10

WORLD’S STEEL CENTRE

VIRILITY OF SHEFFIELD. SEVEN CENTURIES O FLIFE. Chaucer sang, in praise of Sheffield steel 700 years ago; From that day to this Sheffield has maintained her position as the centre of the steel world, ahead of all her competitors in making steel and steel products of quality. So says a statement issued by the intelligence and statistical service of the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce. These two facts in themselves are greatly to the credit of that city, but in one sense they Have their disadvantages,* savs the writer. The great age of Sheffield gives its foreign competitors an opportunity of suggesting that Sheffield •is a “back number)” a thing of the past. And . they make great use of this contention "despite the fact that the world s records on land, sea and air to-day are all accomplished by .machines in which the vital parts are of Sheffield steel. Sheffield fjp-day is turning out 50 per cent, more tonnage than she. did in the best' of her pre-war days and of such quality that it claims', to command, a far higher price all over the world thay. that which is paid for any steels produced in other countries. ■ ' < “This wonderful progress in the face of the very heaviest of handicaps, it is stated, “affords perhaps the best possible proof that there is nothing decadent, about -Sheffield. ‘I guess,’ said known steel buyer from the United. States, who visited Sheffield recently, 4 ®css that if our manufacturers in God’s own country were hampered Jn" their work like you guys, we’d all is?., dead of a broken heart in six moiiths, or wed 1 sure have broken all thc:r iiccaS hi Washington.’ And that same Amerman. it is stated, placed an order for. Sheffield steel at prices that,were .three limes as hi"h as those he .would have pai<u in -hU country for the nearest American equivain spite of her great tgef. ■ , ,-u /. atsM

has never allowed herself to grow old. Even the University of Sheffield does not coniine itself to the mere academic tuition of the jboy. It .follows up its work and influence long after its gradu-' ates have been launched on the sea of 1 life. The university takes an active part in assisting the ' manufacturers themselves by placing its great resources - , in the way of scientific knowledge, laboratories and facilities for research atthe disposal of the industrial coniniun,ity. ' ’ ? . - “There are those who are apt to say that Britain does riot encourage young blood. Be . this as it may elsewhere, many of Sheffield’s young men have always been seen holding responsible positions. Among famous steel magnates of to-day, who have held the c<ffice of masW cutler of the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce when comparatively young, are Sir- Robert Hadfield at 40 years of age, and Sir Arthur Balfour at 38. Sir Arthur affords a' striking' instance of the manner in which, the big men of to- ■ day encourage the young blood in Shef- - . field, for it was owing to'his initiative that that remarkable body, the Junior • Chamber of Commerce, came into being'in that city. This is a properly organised concern composed of enthusiastic’ ybun° r - men who have set themselves to study and discuss all the problems that - -' are before the upper chamber and niany ■ more.' They come, to their own decisions and make their own suggestions to their elders. Their recommendations are thoroughly considered by th© senior- - chamber, and, what is more, in veryniany cases they have .been adopted. “The junior chamber has been .ruri*? ning successfully for some years and is ■ now the largest thing of its sort in Britain, comprising, nearly 300 members. JVhen a member of th© junior chamber reaches the hoary age of 40. he is ruthlessly superannuated as being too old for "that body—though possibly good enough, for the senior chamber. The ef- - feet of this, junior, chamber, on the working out of Sheffield's problems has been - • entirely satisfactory and it ha* <the ’ great advanlng© of. providing ‘ a^cbiituHt- 1 ous inf usipb of .ardent young blood into the conduct of Sheffield’s affaira.’*,:;