STEEL SHORTAGE

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25445, 17 March 1948, Page 3

STEEL SHORTAGE

ASSURANCES TO MR SEMPLE '

“NO IMPROVEMENT FOR DRAINAGE BOARD’’

The shortage of* steel for reinforcing concrete pipes is holding up the work of the Christchurch Drainage Board, and in the opinion of the chairman of the board (Mr H. G‘. Livingstone) any assurances given to the Minister of Works (Mr R. Semple) during his recent visit to Australia in search of steel supplies had not improved the position for the board. Mr Livingstone reported to the board last evening when it was decided that no extensions of the sewerage system should be allowed in areas north and north-east of Shirley road and Kensington avenue, north-west of Innes road, south-west of Papanui road, north and west of Hagley Park, , and north of the Main South railway. “The demands on the steel works in Australia are so great, and the supply of coal, labour, and shipping so limited and uncertain that assurances as. to what can be done for New Zealand are so guarded as to be of no real value,” Mr Livingstone said. “It is true that there are some thousands of tons of steel awaiting shipment, a small part for this country, but it-is of a type unsuitable for the board’s work, and shipping will be in small quantities at long intervals. “This country, and this city particularly, will be in a very baa and unhealthy position if residential building is continued in closely-settled areas without proper drainage. Additional drainage connexions in the north and west means additional sewage in the Avon river.”

Mr Livingstone said he had heard that a limited amount of reclaimed steel from England would be secured by the board if its quality was approved by the board’s engineer (Mr E. F. Scott) and by the firm making the concrete pipes. He had discussed the position with an agent of American steel manufacturers and application was made about a fortnight ago for an import licence, Mr Livingstone said. However, where in the oast it had been a question of availability of steel, it was now availability plus an export licence by the country of origin, plus an arrangement about dollars.

The Minister will be asked by the board whether it will gain anything from his visit, and a,, sub-committee of the board will meet the Commissioner of Works (Mr E. R. McKillop) or the Commissioner, of Supply (Mr P. B. Marshall) to discuss the position.