LABOUR SELECTED FOR NEW RUATOKI CLOTHING FACTORY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 14, 24 March 1950, Page 5

LABOUR SELECTED FOR NEW RUATOKI CLOTHING FACTORY

Complete satisfaction with the ability of 12 young women he had interviewed as possible employees in the proposed clothing factory to be built in the Ruatoki district was expressed by Mr D. Wallace, general manager of California Products Limited, Auckland, at a meeting at Ruatoki on Wednesday. Latest developments in the scheme Were outlined at the meeting~~but further progress is being delayed until Ministerial consent can be obtained from the Minister of Maori Affairs, the Hon E. B. Corbett, when he visits the district N next week.

, Mr Wallace was accompanied by ithe judge of the Maori Land Court for the District, Judge Harvey, and Mr an Mrs Greer. Mr Greer is an expert on clothing manufacture and will be the first manager of thfe new factory when it is established. Outlining the present proposals Mr Wallace said it was plannee} to manufacture first shoes for young children between the ages of five and six years. The soles would be prepared in Auckland, the article completed at the Ruatoki factory and then the finished product distributed from Auckland.

It might be possible to expand the industry after it was first established, he added. Mr Wallace pointed out that it had been very difficult to find a man to take on the job as manager as few people wanted to leave the cities and come to the country. He had been fortunate in obtaining the services of Mr Greer, who was an expert.