COAL SHORTAGE HOLDS UP CEMENT WORKS

Chronicle (Levin), 14 May 1946, Page 2

COAL SHORTAGE HOLDS UP CEMENT WORKS

— Press Association

By Telegravh-

AUCKLAND, May 13. Unlcss more coal is made available for cement nianufactnre, prospects during thc next few months for contractors, local hodies and others who require regular supplie.s of concrete, appear far from bright. Many consumers are at present eontinuing under great dilliculties and several w contracts liave been seriously impcded. The grimness of the picture was outlined by tlie manager of Wilsons (N.Z.) Portland Ceiuent Ltd., Mr. Reid, when he said that, resulting from short supplies of coal, his company's works operated at full capaeity for four days in April, at three-quartcr capacity for the next 13 days, and at halt capacity since then. At least 1800 tons of cement a vveelc was being lost to the e'ity and other paris of the country. "We do not get suHieicnt coal from the northern mincs because the railways have lirst call and are taking tlie liou's share, " he said. "'We need 1500 tons a week but at present we are getting only about lxalf of that. Unless tlie niiues in the Whangarei district increase tlieir output and give us a uiini- ' 11111111 of 800 tons weekly, I eannot see any prospect of improvement in the cement position. That 800 tons would have to be supplemeuted by at least 1200 tons a fortnight from the West Coast' mines. ' ' Mr. Reid said the Karapiro aud Waikaremoana hydro-eloctric projects were drawing regularly ou supplies aud ii\ June the farnriug demand could bo expected to begin a-n.d was likely to be heavy. As""food production was o.t such impoftance, it was likely . farmers would be giveu a high priority T'or cement. Regular requests to the Government for an easing of the coal difficulties luul been entirely without success, said Mr. Reid, who said the plaut and nianpower position at the works was satisfactory. The president of the Auckland Master Builders' Association, Mr. N. Carltom, said althougli he did not know of any jobs that had; beetr completely elose.d down through la'ck of cement, several had been seriously iiupeded. Builders had been able to get through 011 their present supplies but they had absolutely 110 margin and no certainty that they would be able to lceep tlieir contracts running snioothly. On jobs where up to 400 yards of conerete would normally be poured in a day, it was uot possible to exceed about 50 yards at pi'esent. *