WORKS CLOSED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26132, 20 April 1946, Page 2

WORKS CLOSED

GOLDEN BAY CEMENT COMPANY COAL AND SHIPPING SHORTAGE (P.A.) NELSON, Apl. 19. Because coal supplies are not available, the Golden Bay Cement Company has been forced to close down its works at Tarakohe. Coal can be obtained at Westport, but ships are not available to transport it. This is the fourth time since last August that the works have had to be closed down, and it is estimated that 10,000 tons of cement have been lost as a result. No coal is expected until next month. Even if supplies of coal were not restricted, the output of the works would still need to be greatly reduced because the large stocks of cement on hand cannot be shipped owing to the shortage of shipping tonnage. The works are capable of producing between 1200 and 1300 tons of cement a week, but because of the present problems, the output has been reduced over the last few months to an average of about 900 tons a week. The management of the Anchor Shipping Company, Nelson, stated that every effort had been made to meet the Cement Company’s requirements, but suitable tonnage was not available. The provision of shipping for cement and fruit at present created a difficult problem.