CEMENT SHORTAGE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 153, 24 March 1920, Page 7

CEMENT SHORTAGE

SERIOUS POSITION AT MASTEIiTON.

By Tolezraph.-Special {(orreßDondent.

- Masterton, Unrch 23. "The engineer, is "at his wit'« eml to know how to cany on with the work 1611, the septic tank and the drainage .scheme," •.•said the Mayor (Mr. W. H. Jackson) when referring to the cement .shortage at the meeting of th« Masterton Borough Council to-night.. Mr. .Jack-> son also said that he had telegraphed to' the cement company at Auckland com. ■plaining that supplies were tint coming to h-and, hut the reply had slated -.that 1 the company's local agents were rcsponBible for the distribution of the coin'ont. ' Some time ago Mr. Massey had ir.t;-• mated to him that sanitary work would receive first consideration when allocating supplies, hut they were not am- hotter of! than before. They could not proceed'with the most urgent sanitary work, nnd the position had become sn serious that.Mr. G. I!. Sykes, M.P., 1«M Ijpph: called in. In conjunction with the speaker and the Borough Engineer a' telegram had been drafted and sent to' Mr. Massey,..pointing out..that incite' of assurances, both-.from the Primy Minister and the cement companies, onlv nine tons bad been received. Mr. Massey nnd replied as follows: "Your telegram toi hand. Regret to hear of. position In M«uterton. Am placing'needs befn-r 0 Ri W rd: of Trade:"

Councillor Burridge asked how il'wW that tliough the Masterton Cement Pi»p. Company nnd the W.F.C.A. hnd-otel' tp-. ceived over 70 tons of cement in a week ■ the council could not get its quota..Did the council pay less for its cement th«n; the private individuals to whom the, agents might sell ? . ' :

The engineer (Mr. Archer) said ho could not divulge the terms on which/the council secured its cement, .though naturally it did not .pay so much ns .those who bousrht or.lv two .or three hni:s\nr a time. He intended to inform the Board of Trade that oat of .280 tons of cement that had come to Masterton tlie eotjncilhad secured onlyi nine tons. The position was most serious, and should a flood come much of the costly ■work [int had alrcadv been carried out would.'be Tendered .abortive. \

The Mayor said the whole trouble lav in the fact that the distribution ]m'd T>pon left in the hands of the local agent". Should nothing come of the recent telegram, to Mr. -Massey. he would dure to place .the pos ; tion bofo'-e the autlioritit? in an even strriger light. ;<"'mmcillor Condy ?mt\ thnt they must take a very 'firm stand. Thev hid the assurance of Mr. Massey that'their sani-' tnrv-work was of more impnrt.i"ce tha° other operations reciuiring cement, and he suppe?te'l that tho borough em;>lny»oK confiscate the cement as it arrived fltlhe Tailwa.y station.

This course, the-council considers n ■little tno drastic, and the subject Up»-^.