The Star. THURSDAY, MAY 12, 1921. CEMENT SUPPLIES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16424, 12 May 1921, Page 6

The Star. THURSDAY, MAY 12, 1921. CEMENT SUPPLIES.

The position of the cement industry in New Zealand only furnishes another proof of the fact that even industrial chickens will come home to roost. It in only a few months ago that the country was crying out for cement. Appeals were made to the cement companies to increase their outputs, and the companies replied that unless they received more coal they could not supply more cement. Coal production then was in a most unsatisfactory position. Strikes and go-slow tactics had left the country with depleted stocks, and the system of rationing. Users of cement cam© to the conclusion that they could not. secure relief through the New Zealand cement works, and they decided to look elsewhere. The Government remitted the protective duty, and large importations were made, even though the imported article cost from £4 to £G per ton more than New Zealand cement. The duty has now* been toimposed, hut the situation lias been entirely changed. The imported cement has not only tided over the shortage, but has caused a glut. Local production, through the coal supplies having become more adequate, has increased, but owing to the effect of the financial stringency the demand has fallen off. The Golden Bay Cement Company has decided to temporarily close its works, and the workers’ union there has approached the Government with a. request. that the works should be taken over for six months, or through the winter, in order to keep the men employed Sir Francis Beil was sympathetic, but he did not hold out any hope that the request would be acceded to. As he pointed out, there aye many businesses in the country getting into the same position, and the owners would very much like, the State to taKe them over and run them during the critical period. The cement industry has been dealt a blow by New 1 Zealand industrialists. If coal production had been maintained, the works would have reaped the harvest when the demand was good, and the workers would have been in constant and remunerative employment. The opportunity wub lost because coal production was deliberately reduced, and money which would have remained in the country* bias been sent elsewhere. The moral should not be lost on Now Zealand workers, especially in view of the fact that more trouble is threatening on the coalfields. The miner may go out on strike, and return to his job when a settlerneift lias been made. There will he other workers, however, whose occupations will be- gone, either because money has been sent out of the- country ffcr imports during the strike, or because industries have been ruined and compelled to close. 'Workers who are sufferers in this way will find .small comfort in the reflection that, after all, they have contributed to the great cause of solidarity.