BIG ADVANCES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 305, 27 December 1939, Page 9

BIG ADVANCES.

N.Z. INDUSTRIES.

REVIEW OF YEAR.

MANY NEW FACTORIES.

WORK FOB THOUSANDS.

(By Telegraph. —Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, this day,

"There is indisputable evidence that our manufacturing industries have progressed to a very material extent in the past year. Reviewing the various reports, one cannot but be impressed with the story of progress and development they reveal," said the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, Minister of Industries and Com-

merce, to-day.

"One firm engaged in the manufacture of radio sets has increased production from 8000 to 16,000, and increased ite staff by 40 in one month. The opinion was expressed that the staff, now totalling 143, would eventually reach 300.

"Fifty operatives have found work in the manufacture of wallboard, and as early as February the district placement officer at Auckland advised that he could place upwards of 1000 girls without difficulty in the manufacture of rubber requisites for industry and surgical needs."

Eighty male and 20 female workers had been given employment, added Mr. Sullivan. In the same factory the manufacture of cycle tyres had been undertaken, as also a wide range of other products.

Amongst other new activities undertaken in Auckland could be cited the manufacture of braces, caps, men's clothing of all kinds, biscuits and confectionery, nuts, bolts and wood screws, patterns for shoemaking, children's shoes, and innumerable other commodities. Sports Shoes Made. Production of hair wavers and other appliances was the means of finding work for some 30 workers, and other industries that were established included the manufacture of rag dolls, piston rings, wooden toye, pedal care, plastics, koala and teddy bears, blind cords, art felts and fancy leather work.

The manufacture of sports shoes, previously imported, had also been undertaken, and this applied to several other types of shoes.

In the Wellington area there had been marked expansion in existing industries, and several new ventures were under way. The range of activities undertaken, or about to be undertaken, included rug making, tile manufacture, soap and toilet preparations, flavouring essences, high-grade stationery, dried fruit, beach sandals, plastic clay for modelling, and clothes' pegs.

In the Hutt Valley upwards of 50 new factories had been erected or were in course of construction. The manufacture of washing machines was also to be undertaken, and one firm alone had produced 80 per cent of the country's requirements.

All-steel prams, bakelite, plaster of paris, electrical utilities, ecreens for motion pictures, transformers, printers' inks, and many other lines had been produced in new factories or in extensions of existing industries.

Schools of Instruction. Several new footwear factories had been established in Chrietchurch, including one that turned out some 700 pairs of rubber-eoled canvae shoes a day, added Mr. Sullivan. A very pleasing feature of the expansion of the footwear industry in Christchurch was the establishment of schools of instruction before the operatives were actually started in factory work. One manufacturer found it neceseary to work three shifts to meet the demand, and in the manufacture of farm implements additional employees had been engaged. The manufacture of carpet sweepers had been undertaken, and consideration had been given to the possibility of manufacturing pianos The homespun tweeds and clothing trades had shown remarkable advances.

In Dunedin and the south the same story was revealed. Amongst lines undertaken by manufacturers were the making of vermicelli, printere' inks,-soft toys, farina, starch, and mustard, hockey siicke from Southland beech, waxed wrappers, rubber flooring and mats, snow skis, spoons and forke.

In the canned fruit trade the output had been trebled.

"That, briefly, is something of what has been accomplished in the expansion of manufacturing in New Zealand, and in the aggregate the number of persons who have secured remunerative employment muefc total several thousands more than ever before," 6a id the Minister. "The value of the output, and the added value through the processing of raw materials, will also show decided increases when the figures are released."