CEMENT SUPPLIES

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 December 1946, Page 9

CEMENT SUPPLIES

restrictions eased in the NORTH ISLAND MORE OVERSEAS SHIPMENTS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 4. The Minister of Works (MrSemple), in a statement to-day, said that as a result of a substantial reduction in the demand for cement 101 primary industries and hydro-etectnc developmental works in the North Island, together with the fact xhat shipments from overseas sources were now coming to hand, the supply position in the North Island had ea somewhat. This position would be purely temporary, however, as ear,y in the new year the anticipated increased demand for cement for the above works would mean that the demand would again exceed the supply* In the meantime, while the present position obtained ,the Dominion Building Controller, Mr. R. L. MacPhail, was prepared to ease the existing restrictions on the use of cement to the extent that it might now be used for concrete paths to new houses, retaining Walls, paving in school grounds, kerbing and channelling in new land development areas, and for the maintenance of work undertaken by local authorities. The Building Controller had advised all cement distributors, resellers, and stockists of cement in the North Island of the position, and had authorised them to supply cement for the additional purposes mentioned above. Mr. Semple said it was regretted that the same dispensation in the use of cement could not be granted in the South Island, where the supply position was still difficult. Furthermore, a major hydro-electric work at Lake Pukaki was planned to be carried out this summer, which would involve the use of large quantities of cement. Consequently, no general improvement in the supply position could be expected in the South Island, although assistance would be afforded by diverting a portion of the cement normally used in the North Island from the Golden Bay works at Tarakohe to the Canterbury district.