INDUSTRIAL WAIKATO.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4800, 21 January 1925, Page 3

INDUSTRIAL WAIKATO.

MANUFACTURE OF PORCELAIN.

COMMENCING AT OLBN MASSEY. During the Grept W.ar the weapon with which Germany nearly overwhelmed us was its marvellous organisation and its unique system of scientific development. By the application of science to the development of our raw products Germany took the profits which were ours. The war had a marked effect on our industries, the high cost of shipment from one country to another, the difficulty and irregularity, and frequently the impossibility of obtaining goods that were usually imported, aided manufacturing industries in New Zealand. Those industries that were already established progressed and advanced by leaps and bounds, while tne starting of others was encouraged. as a result of the war New Zealand learnt the great advantage of being self-reliant and self-supporting as a country, and the tendency to manufacture is now noticed. To the outside world the Waikato is best known by its exports of farm produce, says the Waikato “Times,” but of recent years there has geen a wonderful development af manufacturing industries. The district is a land of potential wealth, and at Glen Massey, a distance of six miles from Ngaruawahia, is a valuable deposit of china clay. A company has been formec’ and has acquired this property containing the deport, the intentioi being to develop the industry of manufacturing re-pressed facing bricks, white, cream, or, coloured, glazed bricks, poreclain goods, sanitary ware, pipes, tiles, mouldings, vessels, and any other articles which can be produced from china clay and its allied compositions. The wide diversity of uses of clay products and the variety and extent of the value is realised by few people. At present we have to import all china and porcelain articles at great expense, but when the Glen Massey workis are established they can oe made and sold in New Zealand at considerably lower prices than -the imported articles and still show a handsome profit—indeed, the profit is very good. According to the New Zealand Year Book of 1924, the value of china porcelain, earthenware, and porcelain ware imported into New Zealand in 1918 was about £lOO,OOO. It is now over £500,000. The demand is increasing steadily as our population grows. It is understood and appreciated that the weight of porcelain ware is such that it renders the price exceedingly high in this country, owing to the and freight in transit from England and elsewhere. In addition to porcelain ware the market for glazed bricks will be enormous. At present it is impossible to get them ax other than a prohibitive price. It will be readily seen that the importance to New Zealand of an industry of this nature cannot be over-estimated. The manufacture of porcelain—the highest grade of pottery—requires the careful selection of materials and the products have always been imported into the Dominion. With the China Clay and Porcelain Company, Ltd., commencing operations, the Waikato can claim the distinction of being the pioneering district of .this important and skilful industry.

The chief and primary concern of all industries is in dealing in that which is profitable, and the foundation of manufacturing centres is laid in those localities that can supply power most cheaply. The site of the China Clay and Porcelain Company at Glen Massey is singular in this respect, for all the fundamental factors necessary for the success of the venture are already adjacent to the company's property. The clay deposit is within a few chains of the Waipa.Collieries, Ltd., from which excellent firing coal can be obtained. Incidentally, in comparison with coal-burning plants, the capital cost of the installation of electric power works producing an equal amount of energy is very high. The Waipa Collieries’ railway is within a few chains of the property, and even if only the home market is supplied, cheap and reliable transport between the manufacturer nad the consumer is necessary. It will oe readily perceived that on transport and power the capital expenditure will be low, which is an important factor in aiding industrial expansion.

The supply of coal, the railway, and an unlimited supply of clay in close proximity to each other are indeed unusual circumstances, and the shareholders of the company are extremely fortunate in having this collection of circumstances, which undoubtedly spell success for the venture.

The manufacture or production of raw materials cannot be increased faster than capital becomes available for investment, and sufficient contributing shares have been taken up privately to enable the company to go to allotment, which is striking proof of the confidence of the business and professional men of Auckland in the prospects of the company a? an important national industry and an attractive financial investment. Pending the arrival of the most modern and up-to-date machinery from England, arrangements have been made for the preliminaries necessary for the reception of the plant to commence almost immediately.