CEMENT MANUFACTURE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 43, 21 February 1939, Page 7

CEMENT MANUFACTURE

NEW WORKS REFUSED ACTION OF GOVERNMENT BUREAU NO REASONS GIVEN WELLINGTON, Feb. 20. Under the powers of the Industrial Efficiency Act of 1936, the Bureau oi Industry has considered the position of cement manufacture in New Zealand in view of applications to establish a number of new cement works. All these were declined. The proposals came from the following applicants:— P. O’Shaunnessy, to manufacture cement in the Hastings-Waipukurau district. W. Langguth and H. R. MacDonald, to manufacture in the Woodville district. J. E. B. Fox, W. H. Fox and B. Williams, for manufacture at Cape Foulwind, Westport. E. G. Stone (Sydney), to establish four or five cement works in the Dominion.

Southland Cement Company, Invercargill, to manufacture cement at Lime Hills, Centre Bush, Southland. No reasons are officially given by the bureau for its decisions, but it has doubtless considered the available manufacturing resources, and its decision suggests that it has advised the Minister of Industries and Commerce (to whom the applicants have the right of appeal) that existing works are adequate. Cement manufacture has made substantial advances within the las’, few years. There were 50 lime and cement works in 1935, but the last recorded total was 60, employing 953 persons. The output has arisen from 96,587 tons in 1935, to a.total of 151,277 tons, valued at £836,048.