CEMENT.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 11701, 10 March 1902, Page 4

CEMENT.

The producers of cement for tie world are England, Germany, and the United States- Ever since 1896 the production in the last-named country has been increasing far "leaps and bounds." until last year it culminated in a slight over-production Mid a" fall in prices. So rapid has been the investment of capital in this industry in the States that there has been an in- . crease in the production of Portland cement from 2,103,000 barrels of 300 ibs in 1896 to 11,309,000 barrels «in 1900. Enormous plants upon the rotary kiln. system -were erected ail over the country, and it may safely be asserted that the United States are, "by reason of their system of their bulk productions, able to produce as cheaply as any of its eld world competitors. The total quantity of Portland cement manufactured in the States last year was 26,486,274 of 5001b barrels, and "the consumption ■was 23,481,985 barrels. The German production of Portland cement is estimated at 50,000 to 60,000 barrels -per annum, and the British at 40,000 to 45,000 barrels. Regarding production in this colony, we ("Mining and Engineering' Journal') find it somewhat diincult to ascertain the increase ana the total output. Perhaps the best evidence of the increase is the consumption as evidenced by the imports from Europe of former years. In 1851 the imports of cement were 50,774 barrels. In 1896 this had increased to 72.252 barrels, and in 1833 it was 83,167 barrels, and in 1900 it was reduced to 76,928 barrels. Thus, in seven -years, from IS9I to 1898, there was an increase in imports of 42 per cat., cr an average of 6 per cent, per annual. Since then there has been a fall in imports to the extent of 6239 barrels, or 3 per cent, in two years. What is very evident is that the" locally produced article, which is protected to the extent of 2s per barrel, or 16 per cent, ad valorem, is ousting the imported article from the field This has been accomplished in the face c-i much prejudice in favour of the imported article. But the prejudice is fast- disappearing, in the face of the excellnt results, and it is safe to assert that f.ventually the £36,000 appearing on the import Tit will steadily decrease. In some respects cement will al"ways be a welcome article of export to ehippers. since it is suitable for ballast purposes. and as long as it pays expenses some consignments will come in. But as our manufactures progress we expect to see it gradually grow less and reach a vanishing point. " There are three cement work% in active operation in New Zealand. The first of. these is J. Wilson and Co.'s works at Warkwcrth. Auckland; the second is the New Ze-iTtr.d Portland Cement Company's - works at- Whnngarei. Auckland; and last, -though not least, is the 3Hburn Lime and * Cement Company's works at Dunedin.