SCRAP IRON FOR JAPAN

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19664, 26 August 1935, Page 9

SCRAP IRON FOR JAPAN

WHERE OLD SHIPS GO. ' UTILISATION OF MATERIAL. When the Maheno and the Oonah left Melbourne on their long low to Japan, which has ended disastrously, they were bound for the breaking-up yards of Osaka. Japan did not want these vessels as vessels. All she wanted was llie iron of which they are constructed. Why does Japan buy up scrap-iron from all' over the world and adapt It for other uses? In most countries old ships usually go to the bottom of the deep blue 'sea, but in Japan they go to Osaka breaking-up yard, where they are torn lo pieces and resurrected, in the form of constructional steelwork for lofty buildings, bicycle frames or razor blades. You never hear of an old ship being towed out lo sea and sunk in Japan.

The reason is, of course, that Nippon is deficient in iron ore reserves, and she makes the deficiency good by being the world’s largest buyer of oid scrap iron and sl6cl as a substilutc for pig iron. Japan lias tiic highest consumption in the world of old scrap metal, and though her ore reserves are inadequate, the entire demand of the country for metallurgical output is supplied in Hie country, a supply which is based on her imports of old scrap, largely in the form of old ships, such as Hie Oonah and Maheno.

Tlie imports -of scrap iron and steel into Japan during recent years were' 1929, 488,000 tons; 1930, 481,000 tone; 1931, 300,000 tons; 1932, 550,000 tons.

The operators at Osaka can meet the trade demands by turning out any length and size required at short notice, which is advantageous to engineering and construction firms, who receive delivery direct from the rolling plant. The breaking up of old ships- has become an enormous industry in Japan. She excels in it, beating even low-wage Belgium, Germany and Italy. In 1931 Osaka scrapped 250,000 lone of shipping, and though hundreds of ships are lorn to pieces there the material is all used in new construction. And of course there are llie pickings. The flower vase in the Tokyo tearoom, the carpet in the dentist’s office, the curtains -in the suburban movie once adorned the saloons of a liner which is being dismembered, and losing its identity as its very skeleton Is taken 'to pieces.