CEMENT SHORTAGE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18570, 24 November 1920, Page 6

CEMENT SHORTAGE.

BUILDING TRADE HANDICAPPED. * The shortage of cement was discussed by delegates to the annual meeting of the New Zealand Builders’ Association yesterday, and the following resolution, moved by Mr N. Meuli, of Wanganui, was carried:—

“ That whereas the building industry of the Dominion is at the present time being seriously handicapped through the continued shortage of supplies of oement, this conference, while recognising the work of thp Board of Trade m controlling and distributing available supplies equitably and for essential buildings only, respectfully calls upon the Government to take such steps as will result in a material increase in the_ out-

put. The builders of this Dominion pledge themselves loyally to assist the Government and to stand by the Association in carrying out any scheme that may be promoted to overcome the very serious shortage in this essential building commodity.”

Th© president (Mr H. Mainland) said that' ho had been informed that th© Government was negotiating for 6000 tons of cement to be imported into the Dominion. With private orders already made, there should be _an appreciable improvement in supplies. Th© coal difficulty was on© of the greatest problems in the matter, and the Association would do good work if it could offer some suggestion for overcoming the coal shortage. Mr Meuli said that he felt his inability to suggest a perfect remedy. The shortage of ooment was a most serious matter and the remedy did not lie in the doling out of supplies by th© Board of Trade. The Government should be urged to take measures to ensure that adequate supplies of coal came forward for all industries. Mr D. Jensen said that he doubted whether the Government was taking the cement shortage seriously. Air W. H. Winsor said that the distribution made by the Board of Trade was not equitable- Builders who had stuck loyally to their clients and to the regulations were being penalised in favour of a few Government contractors. Buildeiß in Canterbury felt fiery sore over the small amount allocates to the province. Tire allocations made for the half year were:—Auckland, 90(10 tons; Dunedin 6000 tons; Wellington 4500 tons; Canterbury 1500 tons.

The president said that he noticed that the Labour Department had the right .to commandeer a quantity of cement. He thought that no action of that kind should bo taken without some recommendation 1 from the v Builders’ Federation.

Air C. A. Lee said that the Government should be urged to encourage private concerns to further develop tne cement-making industry. Hie amount of concrete work done throughout the country was increasing every month and would continue to do so. Air Winsor said that he chiefly objected to the Government’s policy of building concrete houses. It was the method and in view of the present shortage of cement it seemed unfair.