CEMENT SUPPLIES

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 49, 26 February 1921, Page 6

CEMENT SUPPLIES

EFFECTS OF WHARF TROUBLE

CARGO DIVERTED FROM WELLINGTON.

There is an acute shortage of cement in the Wellington district. ■ The Hon. E. P. Lee, Minister of Industries and Commerce, referring to the matter yesterday, safd that, as a result of the recent coal-mining trouble, especially the strike at Kaitangata and the temporary closing of the Kiripaka mine, the operations of both the Milburn Lime and Cement Company at Dunedin, and Wilson's Portland Cement Company at' Auckland were seriously hampered. The output was.reduced to less than half the normal production, which meant, a temporary loss of practically 1000 tons per week. These cement "works are now again working at their full capacity, but of course the loss of output while coal supplies were short cannot possibly be made good. ' Supplies for Wellington were affected by iHe reduced output at Auckland, and the position has been further aggravated by the trouble on the waterfront.

"The most regular supplies for Wellington are obtained from Golden Bay; but these supplies are quite inadequate to meet the demand, and shipments are arranged whenever possible from ilie Auckland works. As a matter, of fact, 1000 tons were actually loaded at Auckland for Wellington at the beginning of this week; but, as there was no possibility of the cargo being unloaded, and the shipping company was not prepared to allow the/ boat to come to Wellington, it was necessary to divert the cargo to New Plymouth. Wellington was thus deprived of 1000 tons, which would to some extent have relieved the position. Several shipments of imported cement, induced to some extent by the remission of duty allowed by the Government, have arrived, and further quantities from overseas are included in the cargoes of vessels now awaiting discharge at Wellington."