PORTLAND CEMENT

Otago Witness, Issue 3333, 30 January 1918, Page 36

PORTLAND CEMENT

AND A GERMAN MANAGER. OF INTEREST TO NEW ZEAEANDERS. SYDNEY, January 18. A somewhat interesting little development —namely, the proposed cancellation by the Sydney City Council of a contract with the Portland Cement Company, because of alleged Teutonic influences— mil bate some interest for New Zeaianders, because both the principal actors are well known in the dominion. They are: Dr August Yvilhelm Carl Scheidel, managing director of theCommonwealth Portland Cement Company, who was born in Heidelburg, in- Germany, was naturalised in New Zealand m 1890, and in Australia in 1913, and Alderman R. W Richards, ex-Lord Mayor of Sydney, now chairman of the Works Committee, and for some years town clerk arid engineer m Dunedin, New Zealand. The view put foiward by Alderman Richards, and adopted by the Works Committee, is that it is undesirable for the City Council to do business with a company which is controlled by a German, and also has a German as its head chemist, whilst other companies are not merely owned but controlled by British-born subjects. lho Works Committee has, therefore, ' recommended the revision of the council s contract with the Portland Cement Company, and the acceptance of a tender by another firm, or condition that the hitter's price is reduced to that of the Portland Company Dr Scheidel was formerly Acbing Gonsulgenei**' j n Sydney for Austria-Hungary, and Re has made frequent visits to Germany, returning to this country from one such visit at the beginning of the war. lie lias many influential friends, but mo council would rot on that account abandon its policy of having no dealings with enemy firms or persons born in enemy countries. Dr Scheidel has not been interned, but he has been required to reside only in PortIt'is interesting to note that Alderman Richards, while Sydney city surveyor, 20 vears a»o was instrumental in having the council °use Australian cement a contract being entered into with the Cullen-Bullen Limo and Cement Company in 1894. Mr George Raff an, the proprietor, after negotiations with a Germany company, subsequently sold the business to the New Zealand Mines Trust, and it was afterwards transferred to the Commonwealth Portland Cement Company. The latter company, though registered in Australia, is owned in England.