NEW INDUSTRY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 March 1943, Page 3

NEW INDUSTRY

PROPOSED IN MASTERTON BISCUIT MANUFACTURERS TO BE APPROACHED. PRACTICAL MOVE BY BOROUGH COUNCIL. A proposal that biscuit manufacturers should be written to and given information concerning the facilities offering locally with a view to the establishmente of a branch factory was unanimously agreed to by the Masterton Borough Council last night. Several councillors spoke on the need of establishing more secondary industries in Masterton. At the outset the chairman of the Gas Committee, Councillor A. D. Low, said that the matter arose partly from the circular letter which was received at the last meeting of the council from Timaru regarding the establishment of secondary industries in smaller towns and partly from a recrudescence of enthusiasm on the part of Councillor H. E. Gardner. Councillor Gardner, he said, had long advocated the establishment of industries which would result in an increased consumption of gas and was now suggesting the possibilities of a biscuit factory being erected near the gas works. As an inducement to a company to come to Masterton the council had proposed in the past to make land available which, if not given free of cost, could be leased at a small rental. Knowing that Councillor Gardner would like to say something he said he would leave the matter at that. Councillor Gardner said he would like to see the council write to biscuit manufacturers to see if they would open a branch here and at the same time point out the facilities available. He said that there were three essentials for manufacturingraw materials, transport, and marketing. From the proposed site, near the gasworks, there was a butter factory a short distance away and nine miles away there was a flour mill which was turning out the best flour in New Zealand. The district grew plenty of wheat. Concerning transport Councillor Gardner said the site was handy to the railway line and lines could be run into the factory premises. There was a sawmill handy for manufacturing crates. Heat for the baking, etc., would come from the gas works close by. There was a crystal spring on the land and electric power lines ran close by. It would be necessary for the council to grant a right-of-way into Pownall Street. Within a radius of 50 miles there was a population of 35,000 people. It would pay the council to ask manufacturers to inspect' the site and offer it free if it would boost the sale of gas, he said. The Mayor, Mr T. Jordan, said it would provide an industry for the occupation of young people, and would stop them from going to Wellington at a time when they should be at home. Councilloi’ Gardner: “It is full of possibilities.” Councilloi’ C. E. Grey said it was a step in the right direction. He agreed it would be a means of providing employment and added that he would like to see a tannery established here. Mr Jordan said the establishment of secondary industries was closely related to population. As Mr Crawford had said in the ’forties, communication with the port was vital to the district. At present the railway was a barrier instead of a connecting link. In reply to a question asked by Councillor G. D. Wilson, Mr Jordan said girl labour would be used in the factory. Councillor J. Ninnes said he was not against a factory being established, but he questioned whether it could be run on an economic basis in view of the population of the district. Councillor Low: It- is for the manufacturers to decide. We have nothing to lose and everything to gain.” Councillor G. W. Morice stressed the point that the manufacturer would have everything in 'the way of raw materials, etc., at his door. Mr Jordan said that after the war the Dominion would have to import people if New Zealand was to be held. If any district should be populated it was this district. The population of the eight counties here was less today than it was thirty years ago. It was no advertisement and was definitely wrong.

It was decided to write to the biscuit manufacturers on the lines suggested by Councillor Gardner.