RUBBER PLANTS INSPECTED

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27988, 7 June 1956, Page 6

RUBBER PLANTS INSPECTED

MR HALSTEAD VISITS CHRISTCHURCH

2J-HOUR TOUR OF THREE FACTORIES

Three Woolston factories of one of the Dominion’s biggest rubber manufacturing groups were inspected by the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr E. H. Halstead) yesterday afternoon. Mr Halstead is spending three days in Christchurch on his first official visit since assuming his new portfolio earlier this year. Mr Halstead, accompanied by the managing director of the group (Mr. P. J. Skellerup) and the vice-presi-dent of the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association (Mr L. H. Govan), spent two hours and a half walking through the factories, watchin? processes, and talking to executives and workers.. He spent most of his time in the country’s largest waterproof footwear factory, which, each oroduces 900.000 pairs of tennis shoes, gumboots, slippers, and casual shoes. He showed keen interest * in the plant’s vulcaniser —a giant cylindrical oven 10ft in diameter and 30ft long—which the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. The vulcaniser cost £12.000.

“This place has a definite position in the economic nattern of New Zealand.” said Mr Halstead later. “It has a high New Zealand labour con-

tent, and gets its raw-materials mostly from markets close to New Zealand, and they are good things.” -- •

The group’s wage bill, spent in Christchurch is £676,000 a year. About 1000 workers are employed. .In another factory nearby. Mr Hal* stead ’ was shown a wide range of.

products, ranging from coloured- refrigerator gaskets to plastic hosing and vacuum cleaner hoSes. This .plant was said to be “the ' manufactures’ manufacturer.” :

Export Trade "That is worth noting,” Mr Hat* stead commented when shown rubber cups for. milking machines which were to both the United States and Australia. “That-should rock people to know that a' Christchurch manufacturer ';is actually exporting to the States.” "This factory is essential to New Zealand and New Zealand industry could not Ifunctidn without it. My eyes have really been opened: I had no idea there was anything like this here,” he said.

Today. Mr Halstead will be the guest of honour at a luncheon giveir by the Manufacturers’ Association. He will inspect two engineering plants and a glass factory at Hornby. When the Prime Minister (Mr Holland) saw the glass factory’s products at the New Zealand Industries Fair in. Christ-, church last month, he asked Mr Halstead to be certain to visit the factory. Tomorrow, Mr Halstead will inspect a flour mill and a textile factory, and will meet clothing manufacturers. During his visit to Christchurch. Mr Halstead is accompanied by Mr H. F. Larsen, district officer, of his department, and Mr R. T. Alston, secretary of the Manufacturers’ Association.