THE CEMENT SHORTAGE.

Wairarapa Age, 24 March 1920, Page 5

THE CEMENT SHORTAGE.

Borough Council's Position.

A SERIOUS SITUATION.

"Masterton is in sore strait 3 for the lack of cement for essential sanitary works extension, and expensive work done on the septic tank will be useless and have to be renewed unless speedy relief can be afforded. In spite of the urgent requests sent to you and to Wilson's Cement Co., only nine tons have been received in small quant ties since the shortage. The Borough's egtensive drainage works have been entirely held up. We shall be grateful if you can help us out of our difficulty, as the position is very serious." —Jackson, Mayor; Sykes, M.P. The above telegram, dispatched to the Right Hon. the Prime Minister, was read at last night's meeting of the Masterton Borough Council. In the course of a statement the Mayor said: "The Engineer has been put to his wits' end. The septic tank work must be proceeded with, and supplies are not coming forward. The matter was so serious that I communicated with the member for the district, and we sent the telegram that you have heard read. You w.ll admit that it was couched in very firm language." The Mayor then read the following telegram received in reply from the Prime Minister:—

"Your telegram to hand. I regret to hear of the shortage of cement in Masterton. I am placing your representations before the Board of Trade with a view to akord I 'ng relief."—W. F. Massey, Prime Minister. "We can only wait and see what eventuates. Out of the ten tons formerly promised by Mr Massey we only received five," commented his Worship. Cr. Burridge: "How is it that tho W.F.C.A. and the Cement Company can each get 70 tons? To my knowledge 140 tons came up in one week." The Mayor: "I am afraid that 1 cannot tell you." The Town Clerk stated that the W.F.C.A.'s supply had to be divided among nine different branches. He had asked the W.F.C.A. that morning if they were .prepared to let him have a certain amount of their supply oi cement, and they intimated that they could not do so. On another occa,ion out of a supply of forty tons they had let him have two tons. "The whole trouble is," concluded Mr Archer, "the Board of Trade is shirking the responsibility of the allocation of supplies" He also stated that the street work was not being inconvenienced, but the septic tank work was held up. Cr. Candy was of the opinion that the situation necessitated very firm action. He advised that the Borough, Council staff should proceed to the railway station and commandeer the cement for necessary work. The Mayor: "I am afraid that 1 cannot advise going to that length, Cr. Candy. If nothing is done, we well send another telegram _to the Premier. Mr Massey. as President of the Board of Trade, should issue instructions which would ensu:"" our receiving adequate supplies for vur necessary works."