Cement Shortage Is Delaying Building Work

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 August 1949, Page 4

Cement Shortage Is Delaying Building Work

Only 100 tons of cement has arrived at Greymouth in the past two months and one of the periodical shortages has developed, and is perhaps more acute than usual. Apart from the general inconvenience to building and allied trades, the shortage has delayed work on several big 'jobs, including the new miners’ hostel at Blackball. A start has been made by the contractor, Mr G. Manning,' on the hostel job and most of the boxing for the foundations of the new portions of the building is in position. Further progress on the foundations, however, depends upon supplies of cement coming to hand. It is stated that there is ample cement available at Tarakohe to meet West Coast demands but shipping is the difficulty. No boat has ‘been available since the comparatively small consignment of 100 tons was unloaded at Greymouth on August 5, and as there had been no shipment in July, that quantity “disappeared”-in a few days. Relief may be obtained this week, however. The Rata is to leave Nelson tonight for Greymouth, to pick up a coal cargo for Castlecliff and endeavours are bing made to have the vessel make an intermediate stop at Tarakohe for the badly-needed cement. A final decision had not been made when the Evening Star went to press. The price of cement was increased by approximately sixpence a bag on Monday, following the agreement made between the companies and the Government to augment New Zealand supplies by importations and to “spread” the added cost over all cement sold. However, the price increase has so far been only of “academic” interest, in Greymouth as there is no cement to be bought at any price at the moment. Sixpence per bag will not be noticed by “small” consumers, but it will make an appreciable difference to the prices on big contracts where specifications call for the use of some tons of cement.