SHORTAGE OF CEMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 61, 12 March 1915, Page 6

SHORTAGE OF CEMENT.

POSITION IN AUSTRALIA. A COMBINATION OF UNUSAL CIRCUMSTANCES. Recent Sydney files stated that the Public Works Committee held a special ! sitting in Portland, N.S.W., for the purpose of taking evidence with regard to the construction of a permanent water supply for the town, and, during the sitting, it was stated, that water wag so scarce that the Commonwealth Portland Cement Company, Ltd., was paying £50 a day for water from Lithgow in order to keep its works at Portland going. This item of news is of particular interest on account of the extraordinary position that exists at the present time in connection with the cement supply of the Commonwealth and Ne~w Zealand. In Australia particularly a combination of unusual circumstances has led to a great shortage of cement, and many people witli big contracts in hand find themselves in a rather awkward position in consequence of this shortage. Mr. J. D. Bell, president of the Brisbane Merchants' -i«so<;uition, and a member of the council of the Chamber of Commerce in that city, has given an idea of some of the causes tliat have led to the present situation, and one or two developments that may possibly follow. GERMAN*SUPPLY OUT OFF. At the start of the war there wae a great deal of cement in German ship! l bound for Australia, and when these vessels were held up in various ports, th« cargoes never went on —at all events Bot for a long time afterwards. For instance, between 5,000 and 7,000 barrels of German cement were en route to Brisbane at th e time, and, when these failed to reach port, work in Queensland which depended on cement was threatened with stoppage. The Commonwealth Portland Company, which has an immense output when working at full capacity, ' could, in conjunction with other Australian works, supply the whole of Australian requirements in ordinary circumstances, and would have liked to do so. but just when it might liave transacted a tremendous business the drought interfered with its water supply, and it could not go on at full capacity. At the present time it was just manufacturing sufficient for immediate State requirements. British supplies would next have suited the trade —the Commonwealth tariff prefers goods from the United Kingdom — but this source of supply was restricted also on account of the shortage of ships, epacc in vessels from the United Kingdom being very limited. 'Die nituation waa etill further complicated by the restricted New Zealand output in consequence of the destruction of the Portland Cement Company's works at Whangarci. NEW ZEALAND FIRMS APPROACHED Mr. Bell, who wae under the impression that adequate supplies existed in New Zealand, has 'been endeavouring to secure a quantity during his holiday trip to the Dominion, as the firm he represents. James Campbell and Son*, Limited, of Brisbane, could do with more titan is offering on the other side. He confesses himself disappointed at the inability of this country Co supply a line of which there was said to be ample quantities. Only recently, he said, he had read a paragraph in one of the Auckland papers to the effect that the manager of the Milburn Lime and Cement Co. had stated that plenty of cement was available in the Dominion, and that hie own company could supply 1,000 tons a month. Mr. Bcl| immediately wired to th e manager, but received a reply that the Milburn Co. wag not prepared to offer any quantity at the present time. Probably the company may have recently token over heavy Australian contracts, which -would consume its (present supply. Tb e position, however, ie one that may change very quickly. For instance, if ilie Commonwealth Portland Company had the good fortune to have the dam at the worke filled by a fall of rain—one etorm, it is said, would be sufficient— tbe comp.tnv could fro ahead at full speed, and xiipply th c Raetern States of Australia. Then, again, -with the establishment of new works in the Dominion in the near future, tbe present shortage might disappear before an overloaded market. JAPAN AS A COMPETITOR. A rather important development was to be expected, too. in connection with Japanese cement offering. The Japanese I were very anxious to get the trade,, and had a very high-grade article to offerquite equal to anything to be procured here or from Home. There might be trouble in finding shipping space, but that ie not anticipated as the Japanese lines are running regularly to Australia, and appear to have plenty of space. Advice received by Mr. Bell, states that Japanese cement can be landed in Queensland If a cask, or 12/ a ton cheaper than New Zealand cement. Both are classed in the tariff a* foreign, and liable to duty at the rate of 30/ per ton, against 20/ » ton payable on cement from the United Kingdom. A firm with cement work* at 'Hong-Kong wae also after Australian trade, and could probably compete with New Zealand under the present tariff. At the start of the war an effort was made by Brisbane merchants to have New Zealand placed on the came level ac the United Kingdom. Now it was pretty well understood that, unless free .trade is established between the countries, cement will not be included in any reductions, and under existing conditions there appeared to be small chance of New Zealand holding any of the trade against Japan.