CEMENT BEING IMPORTED TO N.Z. BY NON-PROFIT COY.

Grey River Argus, 20 August 1949, Page 4

CEMENT BEING IMPORTED TO N.Z. BY NON-PROFIT COY.

Government's Plan To Meet Shortage P.A. WELLINGTON, Aug. 19 To meet difficulties experienced through shortage of cement, the Government has arranged <fo,r the three New Zealand cement companies to establish a non-profit-making company to be called Cement Importers (N.Z.) Limited, for the purpose of importing cement. This was announced to-night by the Minister of Industries and Commerce, Hon. A. H. Nordmeyer. He added that the Government would determine the quantity to be imported, and import licences would be issued only to the new company. “It is considered that this, is the most practicable way of arranging importations in view of the facilities that the companies possess for distributing cement,” said .Mr Nordmeyer. The arrangement would not apply to coloured and special cements

“The landed cost of imported cement is much higher than the price of the local product,” the Minister continued. “To avoid difficulties which would otherwise arise; it is proposed to pool the price of the local and imported cement, and to sell both at the same price in the same locality. This will involve a surcharge in the case of the local product of twelve shillings per ton, which is equivalent to sixpence per bag on the cement sold'in paper bags and eightpence on the cement in jute bags.” The Ministei- said the first shipment of cement to reach New Zealand was being now landed, and it was proposed that the new pool price would take effect on Monday. “I understand that the three cement companies are contemplating the installation of additional plant to meet the country’s greatly enhanced demand for cement,” said the Minister. “Due to inevitable delays in securing machinery of this type from overseas, it will be at least two years before th e first extension goes into production. Until the new plant is installed, importation will be continued in order to meet the Dominion’s requirements. Adjustments in the pool price may need to be made from time to time, according to the quantities imported and the landed cost.”