BUILDING MATERIALS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26559, 6 September 1947, Page 4

BUILDING MATERIALS

EXTENT OF SHORTAGES ILLUMINATING FIGURES An indication of the extent of the current shortage of building materials is given in the annual report of the Commissioner of Works (Mr E. K. The report quotes, the following figures showing the supply position for 1947-43 “so far as it can be foreseen Demand. Estimated production. Cement (tons) .. .. 300,000 2.00,000 Bricks 36,000,000 18,000,000 Timber (super feet) 418,000,000 345,000,000 Structural and reinforcing steel (tons) 50,000 25,000 Enamel baths .. .. 25,000 7,500 Sanitary earthenware (pieces) 56,000 39,000 Discussing cement, the commissionqr states that the demand is approximately 400,000 tons, but it is considered that industry, because of the manpower fabtor, could not use more than 300,000 tons. The capacity of New Zealand plants is 315,000 tons, but, due to transport and plant maintenance problems and shortage of coal, these works are producing only about twothirds of capacity. The report adds that unfulfilled orders for enamel baths already amount to over 13,500. with the figure rapidly increasing. Whereas the sole New Zealand manufacturer has a capacity of 20,000 to 25,000 baths, the present rate is reduced to 7500 a year because of pig-iron and coke shortages and lack of labour. In a reference to roofing materials, the report states that there is an immediate shortage of 2.000,000 square yards of asbestos cement products and 18,000 tons of corrugated iron.