ONEKAKA VISITED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 68, 22 March 1938, Page 8

ONEKAKA VISITED

MR. ARMSTRONG’S V ISIT. [ Per Press Association.] i MOTUEKA, March 20. The Hon. H. T. Armstrong, Ministef of Labour, visited Onekaka yesterday morning, ’ooked over the old iron works and had the system explained to him. The Minister visited various huge deposits. He imagined one of the first thing! the Government would do was to make a scientific survey and undertake prospecting under systematic methods to ascertain exactly what the position was regarding the various deposits, said Mr. Armstrong. He did not doubt that, accuracy of re* ports previously obtained. Undoubtedly huge quantities of ore were at Onekaka, but prospecting work would be to ascertain whether it was wise to continue with the quarry used i y the old company or to develop from another face. Another point was whether the means of getting ore down by buckets and a wire rope was the most economical way. There was also the question of the best site for the works to be decided upon. It was considered the old works were not erected on the best site, continued .he Minister, and, of course, there were sdme differences of opinion whether the works should be at Onekaka at. all. These were a l matters the Government would have to decide.

The people in this part of the country were very keen t~ hav» the industry developed, said Mr. Armstrong, and no doubt it would be an immense advantage to the district and to New Zealand as a whole.