SHORTAGE OF CEMENT ONLY PART RELIEVED BY PRESENT SHIPMENT

Wanganui Chronicle, 31 May 1949, Page 4

SHORTAGE OF CEMENT ONLY PART RELIEVED BY PRESENT SHIPMENT

Supplies of cement have become very short in Wanganui within recent weeks and the arrival of the m.v. Holmdaie at the week-end has brought only partial relief to the situation. The vessel was at Tarakohe on Friday, but rain and floods in the Takaka district restricted her loading programme. Instead of tilling up with 500 tons, the vessel was unable to load more than 188 tons.

The shortage of cement is due in part to the long gap between shipments. The last occasion on which cement was unloaded at Wanganui was April 11, when the Nikau discharged 170 tons at Castlecliff. At that time supplies which had been built up early in tiie year were being exhausted and the Nikau’s shipment was insufficient to last seven weeks. The demand for cement has always exceedd the supply, but the arrival of two or three shipments within a short time of one another toward the end of last year eased the situation considerably. The long interval between the arrival of the Nikau on April 11 and the Holmdale at the week-end. however, resulted in a famine developing. , Last week the position was so bad that users of cement had none left. Others were struggling along with very limited quantities, and, as a result, progress with some works has been retarded. Early in that week it was announced that the Holmglen would arrive on May 25 with cement from Tarakohe, hut the vessel was unable to discharge at Raglan in time to occupy the berth allocated her at Tarakohe. As only one vessel can load there at a time it had to be vacated. Under the new arrangements, the Holmdale replaced the Holmglen, but her arrival at the Golden Bay port coincided with heavy rain and floods in the Takaka district. This interfered with her loading programme and >she had to come away with 188 tons instead of 500. - Inquiries made yesterday indicated that 188 tons is insufficient to meet all the demands in Wanganui. Till further shipments arrive the shortage will continue. There is some suggestion that later in the year shipments of imported cement, spread over a period, will arrive in New Zealand from the United Kingdom. Wanganui users hope to obtain allocations which will relieve the situation to some extent in the district.