SHORTAGE OF COAL FORCES CEMENT WORKS TO SHUT DOWN

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 March 1948, Page 4

SHORTAGE OF COAL FORCES CEMENT WORKS TO SHUT DOWN

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, This Day. Due to the lack of coal Wilson’s Portland cement works, south of Whangarei, and the sole supplier of cement tor the North Island, will close down at midnight. By that time the coal supplies on which the works depend will be exhausted. No further coal is expected till Wednesday at the earliest. Unless when the coal arrives continuity of supply is assumed, it is unlikely the factory will resume production until after Easter. The company has sufficient supplies of cement to last till the end of the month, but with the works idle valuable reserve stocks will have to be used'. These stocks are normally kept for the winter period when coal supplies are short owing to the increased domestic demand. Repercussions of the factory .shutdown will be felt in the building trades almost immediately. Representations have been made by interests affected to the -Minister of Industries and Commerce Mr Nordmeyer, the Minister of mines, Mr McLagan, and the chairman of the Parliamentary Housing Committee. Mr M. Moohan, urging action to secure immediate coal supplies and continuity of supplies in tne future.