CEMENT SHORTAGE.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 January 1921, Page 4

CEMENT SHORTAGE.

POSITION RATHER EASIER? SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN DOMINION SUPPLIES. Not “only may relief be secured by importing cement, but there is also, it appears, a prospect that as the result of a greater production of cement within the Dominion, the shortage of this important building material will be less acute than it was towards the end of 1920 (says the Wellington Times). It is anticipated that the Orenahi works can be kept going continuously this year, turning out 1500 tons per week in place of the 700 tons per week produced in the last six months of 1920 The Warkworth works, however, are not expected to re-open immediately. Coal supplies are still uncertain; and, as coal is the governing factor, the cement supplies must also remain a somewhat uncertain quantity

But if the necessary coal for the Warkworth works could be guaranteed, the cement position would, be greatly improved. It is not considered likely, however, that the works will resume operations until there is some assurance of an uninterrupted run. The .supplies of cement are expected to be much the same as they were’ in June of last year before the period of acute shortage began.