CEMENT WORKS CLOSING

Taranaki Daily News, 13 December 1932, Page 7

CEMENT WORKS CLOSING

OPERATIONS AT PORTLAND. REOPENING DATE UNCERTAIN. Whangarei, Dec. 12. The works of Wilsons (New Zealand) Portland Cement Company, Limited, at Portland will close on December 23, and it is uncertain when they will reopen in the New Year,, according to the works manager, Mr. T. H. Wilson. The storage bins will be full to capacity on the date of closing, and, with the closing of the works, the kilns will also be closed. Only a few of the permanent staff will then be required. The shipping of cement orders will still be carried on and the necessary men for this work .will be employed from the ranks of the normal staff. It is estimated that 120 men will be affected by tfie closing of the works, practically all of them being married.

For some considerable time the position of the cement industry has been very unsatisfactory and the company h»s been compelled to close the works for varying periods during the jeer owing to lack of orders and the fact that all storage bins have been full. “Although December is usually a slack month for cement orders, the position during the past fortnight has been exceptionally bad,” said Mr. Wilson. ‘Tn view of the position generally, it is uncertain when the works will reopen in the New .Year, and a great deal win depend upon shipments during the next ffew weeks,’*