HIGH OUTPUT OF ARS

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22137, 6 July 1937, Page 14

HIGH OUTPUT OF ARS

NEW FORD PLANT AT WELLINGTON

WORK FOB NEW ZEALANDERS

Cars are now being turned out at the rate of one every quarter of an hour by the new Ford construction plant at Wellington, although it began operations less than a year ago, according to Mr G. H. Jackson, managing director of Ford Motors (N.Z.), Ltd. Mr Jackson arrived in Christchurch by air yesterday morning, and his visit will coincide with the opening of a special display of the new models. He said that the plant at Wellington had recently been fitted with new equipment, and the assembly lay-out had been reorganised. The first of the new models was turned out on June 17, and up to yesterday 31 cars a day were being produced. It was expected that during July the plant would have an output of about 800 cars. Employment was given to 550 New Zealanders, and upwards of £185,000 was invested in plant and equipment. Expenditure in New Zealand since the plant opened last November totalled close on £500,000. Mr Jackson said that the New Zealand workmen produced a job that •would compare very favourably ■with the best that could be turned out by Ford factories in other parts of the world. Greater comfort and refinement were the objectives of the trend in car design to-day. The demand for car radios indicated that radio sets would play an important part in car design, and it would not be long before they were standard fittings. Mr Jackson has been associated with Ford enterprises for more than 20 years. He gained his experience in the Canadian plant, and during the Great War he served with the Canadian forces. He was appointed managing director of the new Dominion company last November.