Review Of Cement Position Discouraging

Chronicle (Levin), 9 May 1949, Page 5

Review Of Cement Position Discouraging

WELLINGTON, May 8. "Beeause of the prevailing shortage of cement supplies throughout the Do minion, I would like to make the fol lowing explanation of the position for the information of all those people who are concerned withlts use, " states the Dominion Building Controller (Air. R L. AlacPhail). "Although cement has been in relatively short supply in various parts of the Dominion for some eonsiderable time, the overall supplv >osition has recently declined to an extent where there is a generai short age throughout the Dominion. The reasons for the reduction in supply are brought about, in the case of Wilson 's Portland cement works, partly through the iriability of the company to obtain the necessary quantities of coal to .uaintain niaximum production; in the case of the Golden Bay Cement Co. at Tarakohe, beeause of laek of shipping; in the case of the Alilburn Lime and Cement Co., through plant shut down ror generai maintenance and overhaul. "All possible efforts have been made and will continue to be made to improve the supply and distribution problefns in the case of Wilson 's cnd the Golden Bay cement companies but it is evident that even with an'improved supply from local manufacturing sources, there will continue to be a gap between supply and demand until such timo as existing plant production capacity is increased. Arrangements have ' already been made for the installation of additional plant but it may be twc years before such plant is in operation. "Having regard to the existing extraordinary demand for cement, plus the increasing demand which is being made by the development of State hydro-electric works in both the North and South Islands, the Government has recently made arrangements for the im portation of substantial quantities of cement to nfeet the requirements ot both the Government and private constructional work. The first consignmem

is due from the United Kingdom about the middle of June and this shipment of approximately 9000 tons is scheduled to diseharge at Lyttelton, Wellington and New Plymouth. The distribution at these points will be made through normal merchant channels throughout the Canterbury, Wellington, Alanawatu, Wairarapa, Taranaki, Hawke's Bay and Poverty Bay districts, these localities Imiiig the ones which are the most baciiy affected. Subsequent shipments will oe distributed to these and other parts of the Dominion in such manner as to afford the maximum amount of relief to all consumer interests at the earliest possible date. ' '