THE CEMENT INDUSTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 May 1921, Page 8

THE CEMENT INDUSTRY.

SUPPLY EXCEEDS DEMANDS.

EFFECT OF IMPORTATIONS.

The position of the cement manufacturing companies in New Zealand was, the subject of a statement by an Auckland business man Who is in close touch with this industry (says the Herald). He said that throughout 1920 there was a shortage of cement, the principal cause being that the cement works of the Dominion were unable to work at full capacity owing to the lack of coal for the rotary kilns. On the other hand, the demand was very heavy, for not only were new industries being established, but other industries were extending existing plants and buildings, and in addition railway works, harbor works, bridges, etc., were being carried out, and the Government housing scheme was put into operation. In the latter half of last year the Government decided to encourage the importation of cement, and to this end remitted the duty on this commodity. This resulted in much more cement 'being imported than the position warranted, said t'he speaker, for almost immediately after shipments began to arrive, construction works were curtailed, owing chiefly to the financial stringency. It had-to be remembered also that the imported article cost from £4 to £6 a ton more than that manufactured in New Zealand. In March last the Board of Trade regulations governing the control and distribution of cement were suspended, and the Government decided to reimpose the duty on imported stocks as from April 1. This decision was due to the’ fact that the demand for supplies had fallen off considerably, and also because, owing to a regular supply of coal being available, local companies had not only been able to overtake orders, the delivery of which had been delayed, but also were in a position to cope with the existing demand. The heavy importation of cement, he continued, together with ample local stocks, had resulted in the Golden Bay Cement Company temporarily closing its works at Terakohe, in the Nelson district. At present, he said, there were only the Milburn Lime and Cement Works and Wilson’s (New Zealand) Portland Cement Works at Portland, operating in the Dominion. The latter works were working at full capacity, but the Wark worth plant, also owned by Wilson’s Company, had now been idle for 12 months.