PLANT IN DOMINION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 31, 7 February 1939, Page 10

PLANT IN DOMINION.

SOAP COMPANY'S PLANS. ESTABLISHMENT AT PETONE. "We have already bought a one-acre block of land In Petone, and propose to build on It a plant involving it capital expenditure of approximately £50,000," said Mr, John V. Moran, managing director of the Austrullan Colgate-Palmolive Company, Limited, last night, when referring to the plans of the head ottico in America, fur establishing a factory in Wellington. Mr. Moran left by the M%ipo*a for America to consult with the heads* of the firm regarding sales policy and other details. Plans for the actual construction have benn completed, and Mr. Moran said he thought that the work of building the factory should be begun in about a month. Material for the factory will, as much a« possible, be bought in New Zealand, und only a few items will have to bo imported. A New Zealand company, virtually subsidiary to the main company, will be formed, and a New Zealander, who has been in charge'of the New Zealand business to date, will be managing director. A staff of between 80 and 100 will be employed and the employees will be nearly all New Zealanders. A few experts will have to be brooglit from overseas, but local men are being trained in the Australian factory to4ake charge of departments in the new plant. Practically all the lines turned out by overseas factories of the company will be manufactured at Petono. These include all kinds of poaps, shampoos «nd other toilet requisites. Up tiU have been imported. The N»*r Zealand Government's re-cently-Introduced > import restrictions have had the effect of expediting the execution of plans for the erection of the new plant, although the plans had been under consideration for some time. The Arm's business in the Dominion has not been hampered' by the new rules, however, and the Government has shown Itself willing to work in with thp company, on the guarantee that the factory would be built.

The State had actually assisted the company in various ways since the restrictions -were brought into force, said Mr. Mnran, who did not anticipate any difficulty In the carrying on of normal buabneis until tba factory is ready to operate.