MANUFACTURING IN AUSTRALIA

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28776, 23 December 1958, Page 17

MANUFACTURING IN AUSTRALIA

Rapid Expansion Noted (N.Z. Press Association—Copy right) " CANBERRA, Detfefhtrer-22. More than £2oom a year was being invested in Australian manufacturing industry by local and overseas investors, the Minister for Trade (Mr John McEwen) said today. Manufacturers’ plans indicated that this rate of expenditure would continue and increase, he said. Mr McEwen said this trend was shown in the new publication, “Development in Australian Manufacturing Industry, 195758,” prepared by the industries division of the Department of Trade, and released yesterday. The booklet showed that during 1958 at least 360 industrial projects, each involving an investment of £50,000 or more, had been announced or were in progress. This development was spread throughout most sectors of industry and throughout the Commonwealth.

The iron and steel industry, for example, was continuing its expansion with an annual investment of more than £2om. Mr McEwen said because of greater population, development in manufacturing in New South Wales and Victoria was at higher levels than in other states.

In New South Wales the biggest developmental projects were new iron and steel works at Port Kembla and Newcastle.

Other large projects included plants to produce cold rolled stainless steel and strip, and aluminium* foil, additional rolling mill capacity for aluminium sheets, an explosives factory, Sn automotive parts plant, a plywood factory and an extensive range of engineering. Carbon Black Plant

Developments in Victoria included preliminary work for a carbon black plant—the first in Australia—a hardboard plant, a project to make construction and earthmoving equipment, a photographic film factory, roller bearing plant, several motor vehicle manufacturing plants plus expanded capacity to make electrical plant and other engineering products. In South Australia there were new activities ranging from oil refining to manufacture of tissue paper.

In Queensland major development was in mineral refining but there were other projects ranging from food processing to cement.

Western Australian manufacturers planned increased pig iron production, enlarged petroleum refining and fertiliser manufacture and expansion in engineering.

In Tasmania notable progress was planned in textile and paper manufacturing. A newsprint mill would double its capacity to produce serriichemical pulp and other expansion included chemicals, wool knitting yarns and confectionery. Mr McEwen said the publication underlined the important part played in the Australian economy by the expanding manufacturing industry. It showed that investors were confident that expansion would continue.

Not only was secondary industry playing a vital role in total expansion of Australia but it was now making an important contribution to export income as well as lessening dependence on overseas suppliers for a wide range of finished products. While Australia’s population continued to increase and with the work force over the next de-

cade likely to be substantially higher, opportunities for manufacturing expansion were likely to grow rather than decrease, Mr I McEwen laid.