GENERAL MOTORS TEN YEARS OLD

Radio Record, Volume X, Issue 9, 11 September 1936, Page 3

GENERAL MOTORS TEN YEARS OLD

N.Z. Plant’s Success EN years of New Zealand industry is the achievement of General Motors, Limited, which last week celebrated this period of establishment at its Petone ‘workshops. The Minister of Transport (Hon. R. Semple) congratulated the company on its successful ten years of growth in an industry which -had turned out 35,575 assembled motor vehicles up to that day. The New Zealand labour employed was emphasised by the remark of the managing director, Mr. G. C. Seers, that the wages bill now amounts to £676 each working day. People who suggested that because the parent company was American therefore General Motors’ Petone workshops were sending a tremendous amount of money abroad were wrong. The figures proved thai during the past two and a half years the people of New Zealand had ‘expendid slightly more than £4,500.000. in General Motors’ vehicles. and of this only 28 per cent. went to America, the rest remaining within this country or the Empire. New, Zealanders had adapted themselves quickly to the requirements of the factory. when operations started ten years ago, and the increasing employment available had been of considerable benefit. The staff were warmly congratulated by Mr. Seers for their great part in the development of the business. A special birthday dinner was held at: the Hotel St, George, Wellington, where the company offered the Government its assistance toward achieving national economic well- -being.