English Cement Allocation For Gisborne Users

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22952, 21 May 1949, Page 4

English Cement Allocation For Gisborne Users

Cement supplies due to arrive in New* Zealand in July and August will be handled on a district allocation basis, and a Gisborne firm has been asked to provide to the building controller an estimated of the quantity which can be absorbed in this district. Circulars have been dispatched to consumers in and about Gisborne, with the object of ascertaining what tonnage of the imported cement they are prepared to take., As the over-all alloca-'' tion for Napier and Gisborne is about 1000 tons, there should be a good opportunity for securing material for urgent work. Orders NoW'lotal 500 Tons The urgency of the demand is indicated by the fact that prior to the arrival of the last shipment in Gisborne accumulated orders had reached an aggregate of over 440 tons. The shipment comprised under 90 tons, and while it satisfied a small part of the demand further orders have accumulated in the meantime. Today is would take 500 tons of cement to fill standing orders in Gisborne. A further shipment of about 240 tons is expected from the Portland works early next week, but dates' of later shipments are uncertain. The opportunity to use imported cement will appeal most to builders and others who can arrange with their, clients to meet the extra costs involved.' The Gisborne firm handling orders has fixed a provisional price of £l4 per ton on the English cement, as a guide to interested parties, but there may be costs which must be added. New Zealand cement costs Gisborne users about £9 per ton. Hazards of Long-Distance Shipping

The English cement is to be packed in waterproof paper bags, it is understood. All going well, it should reach. New Zealand in first-class condition. The hazards of shipment, however, were illustrated in the case- of the cement cargo brought from Europe on the last voyage of the Pamir under New Zealand Government management. This cement was packed in metal containers, but losses were fairly heavy owing to the effect of wool-hooks and other instruments upon the canisters. One proposal advanced by a Gis*borne consumer of cement is that the imported material should be applied mainly to State construction '■ works'? and that a corresponding amount of New Zealand-produced cement should be freed for private use.

One of the bugbears of the average user is that State jobs are taking a substantial share of the New Zealand production of cement. If this necessary, draw-off were checked for a time standing orders from private sources could be cleared up and much urgent private work completed.