RUBBER INTERESTS

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 14, 23 March 1938, Page 1

RUBBER INTERESTS

NEW ZEALAND PROJECTS RIVALTRY FOR LICENSE Overseas financial interests are reported to be competing against Now Zealand capital for a license, to operate a rubber tyre factory in New Zealand. Representatives ,of American and English firms, winch export tyres. and other xuhber manufactures to New Zealand, have carried onL-W® vestigations into the -economic possibilities of a- factory In tliis,.: country.t and it is reliably stated that they have" submitted favourable reports to their principals. New Zealand interests are not behind their rivals, and recently obtain ed’ advice from the engineer hi charge of one of the world’s largest manufacturing firms.. His report lias been sent on to Government officials. A gathering of men prominently associated with the highest interests in the world’s rubber manufacturingindustry took place iii Wellington recently, and a. consultation was held with Government officials. . . There was general agreement that New Zealand lent itself to the .manufacture or - motor tyres, being nearer the source of supply of raw rubber than American -and European factories. There was also a complete agreement that, provided due safeguards wjere made against dumping by overseas firms, an efficient plant could operate successfully in* New Zealand, without any" increase. in prices. It is stated that the field which has been in competition for the New Zealand license has been narrowed down to two overseas firms and the local interests, which have placed a proposal before the Government for the establishment of a. New Zealand-own-ed and controlled factory. Whatever is the issue of tlio present negotiations, it is safe to assume that 1940 will see- a substantial tyro factory in operation in Now Zealand. y