SHORTAGE OF CEMENT

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26886, 12 November 1952, Page 8

SHORTAGE OF CEMENT

OVERSEAS SHIPMENT DELAYED

RECENT INCREASE IN CONSUMPTION

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, November 11. During the last fortnight, a shortage of cement has developed in New Zealand, and for the next four to six weeks there will be insufficient supplies available to meet all requirements.

In an interview today, Mr D. O. Whyte, chairman of Cement Importers (New Zealand), Ltd., said that in recent weeks there had been a substantial increase in the consumption of cemer<t in New Zealand. In addition, a shipment of overseas cement which had been expected to arrive next w’eek had been delayed, and would not reach New Zealand until early in December.

As a result of this delay, there would be insufficient supplies to meet the needs of all users. Mr Whyte said. “Some months ago, the programme of imports of cement for the balance of the year was reviewed, and the quantity to be imported was cut to the minimum which it was anticipated would be required, with the object of conserving sterling funds for other purposes,” said Mr Whyte. “New Zealand cement manufacturers are producing record outputs, and every effort will be made to allocate the available supplies fairly, first, among the different districts in New Zealand, and second, among the different types of users, in an endeavour to ensure that employment in the building industry and the prosecution of priority works will not be held up.” Mr Whyte said that, until the extensions to the New Zealand cement works which were being made were completed, and while New Zealand remained dependent on a substantial quantity of imported cement to meet requirements, there would always be a risk of temporary shortages arising through delays to overseas shipments and difficulties in the distribution of large shipments.

Steps had been taken to secure additional quantities of cement from overseas, but these shipments could not arrive much before Christmas, Mr Whyte said. There would, however, be ample supplies in 1953 to meet all demands.