CEMENT WORKS CLOSING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21165, 23 April 1932, Page 10

CEMENT WORKS CLOSING.

DECISION -AT PORTLAND. SLACKNESS OF TRADE. [BY TELEGRAPH. OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WHANGAREI. Friday. The works of Wilson's (N.Z.) Portland Cement Company, Limited, at Portland, are closing down indefinitely tomorrow owing to slackness of trade. All the storage bins of the works are full and until these stocks are sold the works will remain closed. This will place 100 men out of work, a small staff o$ .about 20 being retained in the meantime. Work has been suspended on several occasions during recent months owing to tho same cause. - It is not anticipated that the closing of these works will affect tho standing order for 800 tons of coal weekly from Waro Co-operative Collieries, Limited, at Hi.kurangi, as it is hoped the cement company will be able to either store the coal or dispose of it outside. j Mr. S. Reid, general manager, stated yesterday that the works were not likely to be closed for more than four weeks. Although about 100 men would be off ( the pay-roll during that time, there would be odd work for them in making repairs arid maintenance. Mr. Reid estimated that there would be about 15,000 tons of clinkor and cement stored at tho works. This was not an unusually large amount, but forward orders had been reduced. Owing to the method of storing there wai no likelihood of the material deteriorating.