82 



WAGES AND EMPIRE 



labour this could be done and need result in our paying 

 no more for the products than we do now. 



Fifth Category 



The following are the details of the United Kingdom's 

 imports of metal : 



Iron. — There is in Newfoundland much iron mined, 

 but it is impregnated with phosphorus, and was sent 

 to Germany for treatment. The higher grade iron of 

 the world, however, shows signs of giving out, and the 

 Commissioners think that we shall soon be glad to turn 

 to the phosphoric ores of Newfoundland. 



There is good iron to be found in many parts of 

 Australia, and in particular large deposits occur in the 

 ' Iron Knob ' and the ' Iron Monarch ' mines, now pro- 

 ducing ore which makes a high-class steel. There is 

 also good ore in Tasmania ; and in the North Island 

 of New Zealand there is a large deposit of iron of good 

 quality. In all these cases, however, the present cost 

 of transport deprives the United Kincfdom of the use of 

 the ores. Our imported iron ores come mainly from 

 Spain. If this supply gave out and we had to go farther 

 afield, or if the cost of transport between Australasia 



