PARLIAMENT State-Owned Cement Works Suggested By Labour Member

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 October 1947, Page 3

PARLIAMENT State-Owned Cement Works Suggested By Labour Member

(P.a.) Wellington, October 15. A suggestion that the Public Works Department should open its own cement works to meet requirements; for big jobs such -as Coal Creek was made by Mr M. Modhan (Government, Petone), in the House of Representatives this evening. Mr C., M. Bowden [(Opposition, Karori) claimed -that Mr Moohan’s remarks especially since lie Was Under-Secre-tary for building construction, could be taken to be a notification of the Goyernmerit’s,;‘ihtention to introduce further measures of nationalisation. Mr Moohan said cement requirements for public works .would be so great for years to come that the department should open up its own cement works, additional to those operating, and leave the output of existing works -for the country’s general requirements. Mr Bowden: Where would they get the labour? Mr Moohan: You can get a lot of things if you make up your mind to it. ' ■ .

Mr Semple said there was a possibility that cement works would be. opened at Invercargill and Westport, but whether the Government would do anything was a question of policy, which he would not discuss on the Estimates. What was the reason for the cement shortage? asked Mr Bowden. The report of the Commissioner of Works showed that it was the lack of adequate transport, coal and labour. Yet Mr Moohan suggested that the State should erect or acquire its own works, although it was clear from the> report of the commissioner that existing cement plants were working little more than .half-time. “I wish to draw attention to the fact that it seems to : be the clear intention of the Government to introduce further measures of nationalisation,” said Mr Bowden. “That is the logical inference from the remarks of the member for Petone.”