MANUFACTURING IN CHRISTCHURCH

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22678, 5 April 1939, Page 4

MANUFACTURING IN CHRISTCHURCH

INDUSTRIAL ADVANTAGES STATED CONFERENCE CALLED FOR MAY S A conference of all local bodies and Industrial associations interested in the development of Christchurch as a manufacturing centre will be called for May 3. This was decided at a meeting of the industrial expansion committee of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce yesterday. . The chairman, Mr H. C. Hassall, outlined the advantages of Christchurch as a site for manufacturing establishments. Land was cheap and factory lay-out easy, supplies of electric power and water were plentiful and cheap, building costs were 10 per cent, lower than in the main North Island centres, rents were lower, and living ' conditions ideal. Metal for roads and concreting was at hand, as were the coal mines of the West Coast. It did not seem that there was any need, he said, for a separate organisation to be set up. Local bodies were tired of contributing to the funds of institutions raised to further the progress of the province. The tyork could be satisfactorily carried out by the Chamber of Commerce committee and the Christchurch City Council. Those importing could usefully contact their suppliers abroad if they thought that there was any chance of them setting up a factory in New Zealand. Auckland and Wellington had a big lead over Christchurch in that they were already well established and the first ports of call in New Zealand.

The advisability of distributing booklets descriptive of Christchurch’s advantages to banks, trade commissioners, and shipping agents overseas was emphasised.