Big Expansion of New Zealand Industry Noted

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 306, 28 December 1939, Page 10

Big Expansion of New Zealand Industry Noted

PAST YEAR’S RECORD Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 27. "There is indisputable evidence that our manufacturing: industries have progressed to a very material extent in the past year. Reviewing: the various reports, one cannot but be impressed with the story of progress and development they reveal,” said Mr D. G. Sullivan, Minister of Industries and Commerce to-day. "One firm engaged in the manufacuring of radio sets increased its production from 8000 to 16,000, and increased its staff by 40, in one nonth. The opinion was expressed that the staff, now totalling 143, would eventually reach 300. "Fifty operatives,” the Minister added, “found work in the manufacture of wallboard, and as early as February the district placement officer at Auckland advised that he could place upwards of 1000 girls without difficulty. "In the manufacture of rubber requisites j,-* industry and surgical needs, CO male id 20 female workers have been given employment. In the same Cactorj', the manufacture of cycle tyres ias been undertaken, as also have been a wide range of other products.” Among other new activities undertaken in Auckland could be cited the manufacture of braces, caps, men’s lothing of all kinds, biscuits and confectionery. nuts, bolts and wood screws, patterns for shoemaking, children’s shoes, and innumerable other commodities. The production of hair-wavers and other appliances was the means of finding work for some 30 workers, and other industries that were established included the manufacture of rag dolls, piston rings, wooden toys, lead cars, plastics, koala and teddy bears, blind-cords, art felts, and fancy leatherwork. The manufacture ot sports shoes, previously imported, also had been undertaken, and this applied to several other types of shoes. The Wellington Area In Wellington area there had been a marked expansion in existing industry, and several new ventures were under way. The range of activities undertaken or about to he undertaken included rug-making, tile manufacture, soap and toilet preparations, flavouring essences, high-grade stationery, dried fruit, beach sandles, plastic clay for modelling, and clothes pegs. In the Hutt Valley, upwards of 50 new factories had been erected or were in the course of construction. The manufacture of washing-machines was also to be undertaken, and one firm alone had produced 80 per cent of the country’s requirements of all-steel prams. Bakelite, plaster of paris electrical utilities, screens for motion pictures, transformers, printers’ inks, and many other lines had been produced in new factories or in extensions of existing industries. Several new footwear factories had been established in Christchurch, including one that turned out some 700 pairs of rubber-soled canvas shoes a day, added Mr. Sullivan. A very I pleasing feature of the expansion of the footwear industry in Christchurch was the establishment of schools of introduction before the operatives were actually started in factory work. One manufacturer of Interlock had found it necessary to work three shifts to meet the demand, and in the manufacture of farm implements 50 additional employees had been engaged. The manufacture of carpet-sweepers had been undertaken, and consideration had been given to the possibility of manufactured pianos and homespun tweeds, and the clothing trades had shown remarkable advances. Industry In the South. In Dunedin and the south the same story was revealed. Among lines undertaken by manufacturers were the making of inks, soft toys, Farina starch and mustard, hockey sticks from Southland beech, waxed wrappers, rubber flooring and mats, snow skis, spoons and forks. And in the canned-fruit trade the output had- been trebled. “That briefly is something of what has been accomplished in the expansion of manufacturing in New Zealand, and in the aggregate the number of persons who have secured remunerative employment must total several thousands more than ever before,” said the Minister. “The value of the output and the added value through the processing of raw materials will also show decided increases when the figures are released.”