I—l2.

1917. NEW ZEALAND

INDUSTRIES COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). (Mr. WILKINSON, Chairman.)

Presented to the House of 'Representatives, and ordered, to be printed.

ORDER OP REFERENCE. Extract from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Pbiday, the 20th Day or July, 1917. Ordered, " That a Select Committee be appointed, consisting of ten members, to inquire into and report upon matters tending to benefit and encourage the industries of the Dominion ; with power to call for persons and papers ; three to bo a quorum : the Committee to consist of Mr. Craigie, Mr. Forbes, Mr. Hudson, Dr. A. K. Newman, .Vlr. Pearee, Mr. Poland, Mr. Sidcy, Mr. Veiteh, Mr. Wilkinson, and the mover." —(Right Hon. Mr. Massby.)

REPORTS. Utilization of Steel Scrap and Waste by Electrical Process. I have the honour to report that your Committee has had under consideration a proposal, submitted by the Government, from Mr. Thomas Waddell, steelfounder, of Christchurch, who proposes to establish a plant for the smelting of scrap steel by an electrical process, thus using up waste steel scrap. The applicant urged that a bonus of £1 per ton be granted hj the Government up to 5,000 tons. It was also suggested that a remission of duty be made on machinery imported for the establishment of such works. Evidence was given by Mr. Waddell; Mr. Parry, Chief Electrician to the Public Works Department; Mr. F. Peed, Chief Inspector of Mines; Mr. 4A. Smellie, steelfounder, of Dunedin; and Mr. H. H. Jackson, Chief Mechanical Engineer to the New Zealand Railways Department. The Committee does not recommend that a bonus be granted as suggested, but recommends to the favourable consideration of the Government the remission of Customs duty on machinery imported for the erection of the electric furnace necessary for the production of steel under the process above referred to. Your Committee is of the opinion that the production of iron and steel in the Dominion is a matter which should receive the attention of the Government, and recommends that further inquiry be pursued in regard to this important question. 3rd October, 1917.

Tar Products. I have the honour to report that the Committee has had under consideration an application for assistance in the matter of (1) reduced railway rates on the carriage of prepared tar for roadmaking purposes used exclusively by local bodies; (2) protection through the Customs of tar preparations manufactured in New Zealand. After careful consideration of the question the Committee recommends— (a) That tar preparations manufactured in New Zealand shall, when required by local bodies exclusively for roadmaking purposes, be carried under the classification known as Class N; (b) that the Government be urged to favourably consider the advisability of assisting the tar-distilling industry by giving the resultant products a reasonable protection through the Customs. Further, the Committee is strongly of opinion that the Government Departments should give a decided preference to goods manufactured in the Dominion from tar and the by-products thereof, provided the price and quality are satisfactory. ' . > 17th October, 1917.