INDUSTRIAL CENTRE

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20736, 21 February 1939, Page 9

INDUSTRIAL CENTRE

HAMILTON’S CLAIMS NEW SECONDARY INDUSTRIES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ACTS In an effort to encourage the loca- I tion of secondary industries in Ilamil- ! ton, the Hamilton Chamber of Com- J merce decided last evening to draw j the attention of the Minister of In- j dustries and Commerce, the Hon. D. 1 G. Sullivan, to the facilities offering j in Hamilton for secondary industries, j The Minister will also be urged to i consider the possibilities of reduced freight chaises for raw materials used by secondary industries established ■ in the town. Mr A. G. Ward, president of the 1 chamber, said his council had been interested in the efforts of the Government's endeavours to encourage secondary industries in New Zealand. The Waikato offered a great number of facilities for the location of : secondary industries, and lie was of the op):non that the chamber should wim the Government in j the establishment of industry in : Hamilton. District’s Attributes Mr Ward recalled that the chamber | had been interested in dc-cenlralisa-tion and for that purpose Hie Waikato was admirably suited. First Ihe dis- i triet was close to the biggest coal- ; fields in New Zealand. There was 1 cleeliicily and an abundance of water ; with the Waikato River as the source. Distribution would be easy with ex-

cellent road, rail and water services, while there was a population of 150,000 people within a radius of ten miles of the town all of whom would be potential purchasers of the products manufactured locally. Being close to Auckland, Hamilton was near the most modern port in New Zealand, In the industrial area in Frankton excellent sections were available for building which would be less expensive than sites in the industrial areas of most cities. In addition a large volume of labour was available in the town and district. Mr C. A. Darrell, M.P. for Hamilton, who attended the meeting, asked if the chamber had any particular industry in mind to which Mr Ward replied that the chamber had not. Coastal Towns Preferred The difficulty was, slated Mr Barren, to encourage secondary industries to leave the coastal towns. There were some manufacturers who j desired to be away from the main I cities hut their preference appeared j to fall with Timaru and Oainaru which were coastal towns. There was an . abundance of people seeking oppor- . tunities to commence new secondary , industries, however. Mr Barren said he was anxious to ■ see secondary industries established in Hamilton and he would be pleased • to receive the co-operation of the j chamber. It was imperative, however, for Hamiltonians to support the industries that were already established locally.