CEMENT SUPPLIES

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26723, 6 May 1952, Page 9

CEMENT SUPPLIES

COMMENT ON LIFTING OF RESTRICTIONS "The Press" Special Service AUCKLAND. May 5. Doubt whether future supplies ot cement from local and overseas sources will meet the Dominion's requirements for the rest of this year, particularly in view of the lifting of restrictions, was expressed by Mr D. C. Street, chairman of the D. C, Street Construction Company, Ltd., Hamilton, at the annual meeting of shareholders. Up to the end of March, said Mr Street, supplies of cement had been extremely scarce, and the company, in common with other building firms, had been hampered in it» „work. Since then the immediate requirements of the trade had been met by the arrival of several large shipments. Every ton of cement produced locally carried a price increase of £4 3s to balance up the cost of imported supplies. With imports at the level of 140,000 tons mentioned recently by a Cabinet Minister, and with New Zealand production at about 200,000 tons a year, the total added cost for the 340,000 tons of cement available during 1932 would be *1,445,000. This sum would establish an economic cement works in New Zealand at 1952 capital costs. As a result of spending all this money to import cement buildings were costing a lot mere money to erect. The congestion of shipping at the main ports was increased and no relief wa» in prospect for next year-

STOCK SALES PLEASANT POINT “The Press" Special Service TIMARU, May 5. Prime cattle were in short supply in the penning of 70 head of fat cattle offered at Pleasant Point to-day, but values remained unchanged. More than 1250 fat lambs of good quality were offered, and the increased schedule was fully reflected in subsequent values. Few good quality sorts came forward in the three races of fat sheep offered, and values for ewes rose 4s a head. Wethers held firm. Well-bred ewe lambs met a keen demand in the very large penning of store sheep, small to medium wether lambs being difficult to sell. Values ware:— Fat Cattle.—Steers: be»t, £27 to £33 3s 6d; medium, £24 to £26 17s 8d; light, £l7 17s 6d to £33 17s 6d. Heifer*: b««t. £22 7s 6d to *27 17s 6d; medium, £l9 to £22. Cows; good, £l7 to £l9 17s 6d; medium, £l5 to £l6 17s 6d; light, £ll to *l4. Store and Dairy Cattle.—Bulls, to *B 10s; dairy cows, to £36 ss. Fat Sheep.—Lamb*, extra good, 53* to 565; good, 48s to 535; medium. 43s to 47*; light, 35s to 40s. Wethers: best, 47* to 51s 7d; medium, 43s to 46s 10d; light. 38* to 425. Ewes: extra good, 36s 7d to 43s Id; good. 32s to 355; medium, 27s to 31s; light, 23s to 255.

Store Sheep.—Ewe lambs: best, 43s to 48s; medium, 35s to 42>; small, 37s to 945. Shorn ewe lambs: 31s. Wether lambs; best, to 34s 6d; good, 26s to 295; medium, 20s to 255; small, 14* to 19s; culls, 6s to Ils. Two-tooth wethers: 36s to 41s. Rape ewes: 8s to 12s.