THE GLASSWORKS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 248, 31 July 1937, Page 8

THE GLASSWORKS

' INVESTIGATION BY MINISTER. POSSIBILITIES OF MARKETS. INTEREST SHOWN IN SAMPLES. An investigation into the causes of the closing down of the Southern Cross Glass Company’s works at Ashburton and a survey of the possibilities of markets in the South Island to keep the works .going, is to be carried out by the Department of Industries and Commerce at the request of the Minister (the Hon. D. Sullivan). The works have been lying idle for several years following a brief period when bottles and other containers were manufactured there, and there has been a good deal of dissatisfaction among shareholders in regal’d to the position. Several attempts have been made to bring about the reopening ol the factory, but these have not come to anything. A number of samples of containers made at the works were obtained by Mr H. E. Herring, M.P., who took them to Wellington this week and showed them to the who expressed surprise that there had been any manufacturing at the works, and also at the excellent quality of the glass. Mr Herring pointed out to the Minister that there was a limitless supply of silica sand at Mount Somers avail- 5 able for the works, and that its purity was greater than any similar raw material in the world. He stated his opinion that tho South Island offered a market that could be handled with ease by the works. The Minister, displaying considerable interest in the question, stated that he would authorise the officers of his Department to carry out an investigation, as stated above.