A VISIT TO GENERAL MOTORS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 631, 6 April 1929, Page 6

A VISIT TO GENERAL MOTORS

HUGE INDUSTRIAL ORGANISATION Producing cars at the rate of lio a week, the General Motors plant Petone is employing a staff of 430 nA -Zealanders. •ww It is indeed a credit to the v e « Zealand workmen that Operation* a? General Motors, judged on a basis of time, compare favourably with thos of larger overseas plants. To go through the lactorv undfi the guidance jo£ Mr. McHardy Forman the managing director, is to see and to realise what New Zealand is doini: First, the skeleton frame of the body is glued and screwed into a complete unit. Steel panels are electrically spot-welded together and the doors attached. The body is then covered with three coats of Duco, and it takes many more separate operations before the body is upholstered, lined, glasswork put in and all the trimming completed. At the same time the chassis is progressing along another line. Frame members are pneumatically rivetted into the complete chassis frame and - after the rear axle is attached, the chassis is placed on the main assembly line—a travelling conveyer 150 ft in length. As the chassis gradually moves along the line, dozens of smaller assemblies converge, the engine is placed on the chassis, wheels are attached, tyres and rims fitted, f Finders, running boards and side aprons are gradually assembled. The now nearly completed chassis moves ahead and is constantly coming under the hands of differently specialised workers. Petrol tanks are formed, soldered and tested under air pressure, radiator shields polished and the completed radiator put together. After this, electricians attend to the wiring and lamps and the engine is completed. The chassis is now drawing to the end of the line. The body is neatly swung over and bolted into place. The car is now supplied with water and oil and dri\ r en off under its own power. That New Zealand benefits considerably from the General Motors Company is indisputable when the facts are considered. The salary bill paid to New Zealand employees for two and a-half years* work amounted to £. 162,135. The company, by developing local purchase wherever possible, is making a substantial contribution to the Dominion’s prosperity, and an ever growing proportion of material is being purchased in New Zealand. It is interesting to note that by purchasing New Zealand materials and by utilising New Zealand railways and shipping. General Motors have already spent the sum of £1,041,032. Mr. McHardy’ Forman gave an interesting demonstration showing the amount of New Zealand laboiir expended ori English cars imported ready assembled, as against that required to produce a car in New Zealand. Tb e Vauxhall car is imported from England ready assembled, and Mr. McHardy Forman had one of these brought in and instructed two employees to open it up. In less than on° hour that Vauxhall car was ready for the road. As against this it takes a fortnight to complete a Chevrolet built on the. premises. The car undergoes bundreds of different operations ann passes through the hands of some 30*> workmen. The facts revealed by a visit to General Motors show clearly that every car produced by this firm in New Zealand, of New Zealand materials and by New Zealand workmen, is bringing more prosperity to the Dominion than the car imported ready assembled.