N.Z. FACTORY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 June 1939, Page 5

N.Z. FACTORY

RECKITTS AND COLMAN KEEN Messrs Rcckitts (Overseas), Ltd., and Colman Keen (N.Z.), Ltd whose business interests in New Zealand go back many years, have announced through their New Zealand managei, Mr S. B. Harris, their decision to establish a modern and fully-equipped factory in the Dominion. A site has been purchased near Logan Park, Dunedin, with adequate space for expansion. A contract has been let by the architects under which the building, of four storeys in reinforced concrete, is to be erected in eight months, and towards the end of that period the installation of a considerable amount of plant for the highly-spe-cialised processes of manufacture will b° commenced under the direction of Mr H. G. Woolman, factory manager and engineer, in progressive stages to make for an early completion of erection and the commencement cf operations. Mr Woolman has both chemistry and engineering qualifications and the New Zealand company has also had the exnert advice of Mr W. R. Slack, of Sydney, in the preparation of plans of building, plant lay-out, and general factory and staff facilities. The contract price for the building is approximately £35,000. In addition to the manufacture of the major products, starch (which requires special experience of materials and processes), mustard, washing blue, polishes, and foods, a number of other articles will be manufactured in the Dunedin factory, which will provide employment for about sixty persons in its opening development. The first business done by Reckitts, Ltd., in New Zealand was introduced by a Sydney representative who came across the Tasman in 1888, fifty-one years ago.* In 1897 a resident representative was appointed, and in 1906 a separate branch was established. The decision to set up a factory in New Zealand does not arise wholly out of the Government’s policy of restricing imports and fostering local industry, for the proposal was first made some time ago, but the import regulations have naturally been a substantial factor in the present decision. Mr Harris said that, with the exception of the manager and possibly specialist workers, the staff would consist wholly of New Zealanders, and that if materials fully up to specifications and requirements were obtainable from New Zealand sources they would be used to tfie greatest extent possible.