THE CEMENT QUESTION

Southland Times, Issue 18860, 28 June 1920, Page 5

THE CEMENT QUESTION

SUPPLIES AND PRICES. A BOARD OF TRADE STATEMENT. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 25. In a statement relating to the Board of Trade control of cement supplies, the president (the Hon. E. P. Lee) says:—“As time goes on the demand for cement grows more insistent, and the Board’s responsibilities with allocation become more difficult. The stoppage or delaying of supplies for certain works not absolutely essential may cause certain hardship, but public duty obliges the Board to restrict cement to essential operations, because the supply is not nearly sufficient even for essential purposes. | The regulations enable the Governmnt to i require special permits for the erection of : buildings at an estimated cost exceeding j £3OOO, but experience from the viewpoint j of cement has proved that additional regu- I lotions will be necessary.To show that the j price of cement has been kept at reason- ! able figures by the Board’s control there is the fact that the lowest price for imported | kinds is at least £3 per ton higher than the i local prices. Even at the comparatively ! high prices of overseas manufacturers it is : very difficult to obtain any quantity. The j Board has tried to place orders in Hong Kong, Australia, the Pacific Coast of America, and Great Britain, but with very little success. Private enterprise is free to import as much cement as it can, and to control its use here without restriction. Though circumstances have obliged the Board to agree to increases in prices, tho present quotation is much below the charges in other countries. Tire recent increases here were mainly due to the raising of wages an dthe heavy cost of coal. The latest increase of 12s a ton for cement was wholly due to the rise in coal, for which the cost has gone as high as £4 12s fid in at least :me instance. Before any increase in the price of cement can be passed on to the users, full documents setting out the reasons have to be submitted to the Board, which iecides the matter on the evidence.”