SUPPLY OF CEMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 July 1920, Page 4

SUPPLY OF CEMENT.

REMOVAL OF THE DUTY, WILL MEAN MORE IMPORTS. In connection with the Government proposal to remit the duty on imported cement, announced \v»uerday morning, the question present: itself; Will the result be a reduction, in jiriceai There is also the consideration as to whether this action will have the effect of materially increasing supplies. Questioned on this subject by a Daily News representative, a New Plymouth merchant said lie did, not think a reduction of prices would be brought about by the importations as tie present changes were the result of increased wages and greater cost of coal used in the cement industry., The opinion was expressed that more supplies can be secured with the removal of the duty, as it is understood cement is available In Australia for exportation. The ~ way seems open, therefore, to afford some relief to the present situation throughout New Zealand. To what extent tion can toe improved will depend on, how much cement is imported. The quantity mentioned in the telegram appearing in yesterday's Daily News was 6000 tons, but it is stated that it is the custom in such cases for the Government to.stipulate merely a nominal amount, which 4n most cases is 'afterwards exceeded. Viewing the proposal in this- light it seems possible that New Zealand may get even 10,000 tons, or more, from outside sources, and the importation will be a welcome relief to many firms and individuals who have been held up owing to the scarcity of what is now almost the primary building material, i SHORTAGE IN TARANAKI. COMPLAINTS IN PARLIAMENT. (By Wire.—Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Last Nigh,t. A complaint about the shortage of cement' in Taranaki was made ih the House of Representatives to-day by Mr. S. G, Smith. He said thafctha Board of Trade was allocating cement from the Auckland work to East Coast towifa, but not nearly sufficient for urgent w'orkg in Taranaki was being provided., TJte cement was most urgently needed for houses. The conditions under ;whie}i some families were living in Taranaki were deplorable, and on this ground he would ask the Minister to treat the matter as one of urgency. \ ~ Tl(o charge of the Board of Trade (Mr. Lee) said he, would have enquiries.made into the complaint, and inform the lion, member of the result ol the enquiries. Mr. R. Masters asked about the output from the Milburn works in Otago, expressing the opinion that this cement was not being distributed fairly. He understood that the output of these works was as big as that from Golden Bay, and' while the Milburn supply was being reserved for Otago and Southland, the rest of New Zealand had to rely on. Golden Bay and the Auckland works. He believed that the acute shortage in Taranaki and other parta of N«w Zealand could be relieved if the Milburn output were more fairly distributed ' Mr. Lee said that ho would nave this matter investigated, but he could, not admit that the distribution of csment was inequitable. Taranaki was short of cement like other parts of New Zealand.