BIG FACTORY FOR CHRISTCHURCH

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 24095, 3 November 1943, Page 2

BIG FACTORY FOR CHRISTCHURCH

BRITISH COMPANY’S PLANS Plans for the establishment of a large factory in Christchurch to manufacture Ovaltine are now being made by the British firm of A. Wander, Ltd. A site of 14 acres has been purchased in Papanui, and it is hoped that the contract plans for the building will be ready early next year. , , The factory will supply the whole ot New Zealand, and will use large Quantities of barley, milk, and eggs, which will be obtained in Canterbury. Arrangements have been made already for the supply of pasteurised milk. Most of the machinery for the factory, which includes units weighing up to 30 tons, will be made in New Zealand, and all other materials for packing and labelling the product will be obtained in the Dominion. „ TT _ The works manager, Mr R. H. Truscott, who is now in Christchurch, is making arrangements for the construction of the factory and the installation of equipment with the architect, Mr C. C. Lamb, of Christchurch. Mr Lamb recently returned from a visit to Australia. where hg inspected the company’s new factory in Tasmania, and investigated industrial building developments in Melbourne and Sydney. Mr Truscott said yesterday that the factory would be a three-storey building of brick and reinforced concrete. It would be set back 100 ft from the road, and the land would be laid out with lawns, trees, and flowers. The frontage to the Main North road, almost opposite St. Bede’s College, would be 280 ft. and the building would go back 220 ft and have a maximum height The factory will be one of the most nn-to-date buildings of its type in New Zealand, and will be almost completely self-contained. Mr Truscott said that it would contain a modern canteen, first-aid and rest rooms, workshops for engineers, electricians, and carpenters, and acetylene welding equipment for repairs to machinery. A large volume of* water would be needed for cooling purposes, and this would be obtamei from artesian wells on the property. A swimming pool would be provided for the workers, and would serve to store water for fire fighting. There .would be an up-to-date laboratory, m the building, and there was sufficient land for housing.