CEMENT POSITION EASIER

Chronicle (Levin), 5 December 1946, Page 7

CEMENT POSITION EASIER

-Press Association

some restrictions lifted

By Telearayh-

WELLINGTON, Dec. 4. The Minister of Works, Hon. 11. Sempie, in a press statemeiit today, said that as the result of a substautial reduetion iu the demand for cement for primary industries and hydro-electric developmental works in the North Island, together with the fact that shipments from overseas sources were now coming to hand, the supply position in the North Island liad eased soniewliat. This position would be purely temporarv, however, as early in the New Year it was antieipated that an increased demand for cement for the above works would mean that the demand would again exceed the supply. In the ineantime, while the present position obtained, the Dominioti building controller, Mr. R. L. Macpliail, was prepared to ease the existing restrictions on the use of cement to the extent that it may now be used for coucrete paths to new houses, retainiug walls, paving in school grounds, kerbing and cliannelling in new land development areas, and for maiutenance work undertaken by local authorities. The building controller had advised all cement distributors, resellers and stockists of cement in Ihe North Island of the position and had authorised them to supply cement for the additional purposes mentioned above. Mr. Semple said it was Tegretted the same dispensatiou in the use of cement. could not be grauted in the youth Island wliere the supply jiosition was still difficult. Eurtlicrniore the major hydroelectric work at Lake Pukaki was planned to be carried out this summer, which would involve the use of large quantities of cement. Consequently no general improvement in the supply position coulu be expected in the youth Island although assistance will be afforded by diverting a portion of the cement normally used in the North Island from the Golden Bay works to the Canterbury district.