SUPPORTING LOCAL INDUSTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 64, 10 April 1909, Page 6

SUPPORTING LOCAL INDUSTRY.

NEW ZEALAND-MADE CEMENT. At a recent meeting of the New Plymouth Harbor Board, a discussion arose on the question of using New Zcalandm'aiki cement in the construction of the local breakwater, it being eventually resolved to obtain the .opinion 'of the Hoard's consulting engineer oil the matter. The secretary of Wilson's Portland Cement Company, Auckland, writes eommemting oil tho opinion we expressed at the time favoring the use of the lncailly-.made article because it was just as good as the imported, as cheap, if not cheaper, and as having been successfully used in harbor works elsewhere. We ■held no brief for any particular cement company when we wrote oil' the subject. We merely desired to support a principle, that being that where everything is eijual wo. shbiild give preference to articles of local manufacture, and that we hail, a right to expect -our public bodies to give a, lead in this connection when opportunity permitted, as, in our view, 'Wits the case in respect to Ihe lining of New Zealand cement in the construction of t!io breakwater. What the secretary of the company referred to has to say on the subject is -interesting as showing what tests count, for and the results that have attended tho use ol the material in New Zealand. Ho sayss—

"Star Brand" Portland < cnu n.t was i tlio first lnau-ufactiuvd in the Dominion. ■ 1885. Tim Kaiigitoto lieacon was ' erected with it on a submerged roof in ; 188 li. Since thin it has been extensively ■ used by tire Auckland liai'bor Board for ' fcrro-conerete wliiirves. sea-wall*, ducks. I el;. From 1897 tu date the Xupier Harbor Board liave used! over 12,0(10 tons, ■ (lisliurm- Harbor -Hoard a considerable i quantity for tdiuilar work, ' Harbor ''Hoard large quantities for sca--1 walls, dating from 181)8 to date, iiml nmv in the construction of their- new dock. The cement being used in Otira tunnel is also of our manufacture. The Tiitiraiiyi reservoir (Auckland watersupply) >was built si ml) plastered with "Star Brand" cement, about live years ago. Since then the pressure reservoir at Waitakerei has been built, ami now the main dam is under construction, "Star Brand" beftig used in both cases, in connection with the Grafton bridge i.ow being constructed for the Auckland City Council, about UOllft in length, the main arch hoinjr 320 ft clear span, the cement used is "Star Brand." The capability of the .plant in 1885 was 400 tons per annum. now it. is 40,0(10 tons pel' annum. This increase spells satisfaction. The British anil all other standard specilications are guaranteed. Thi'S should !>:" enough to satisfy any enquirer, and much more practical lln - a few sample blocks placed in t.he sen. As showing the importance attached to the reputation of a brand, the specifications of tile, Army Engineer, U.S.A., always provides that cement, must have been used for at least three veal's on similar works before it can lie accepted. That provision is adopted to guard against any uncertainty in short-da(-tests, because high tests at short dates are no guarantee of quality, and because dangerous properties may develop later on. To counteract -th? danger arising from manufacturers aiming at excessive tests, .the engineers of Europe sonic three years ago standardised all tests and adopted moderate strength, to reduce the risk t>f unsoundness. ■lud'.giiig by popular expressions, no Portland cement .nude in the Old World ever proves faulty. That is not correct. Being a manufactured product, the first consideration is., good raw in'aterinlfi and constant supervision in any branch from start to finish. Without full -knowledge : gnniedl by experience oil thesp points, and strict attention: to details, any brand may go wrong, and no short-date | series of tests can protect. the user, | hence the -only protection the user can I have is the reliability oS tho "brtwad. '