New Manufacturing Industries For N.Z.

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29067, 2 December 1959, Page 11

New Manufacturing Industries For N.Z.

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, December 1. New Zealand is entering a period of industrial expansion which involves the establishment of perhaps 100 new manufacturing industries or new units in existing industries. Within the next few years the capital investment in new industry could increase by more than £100,000,000 and direct employment be provided for up to 16,000 men and women.- At the same time there will be considerable expansion of existing manufacturing units. In some of these new industries the capital investment required has already been indicated. For example, £2,000,000 will be required for an aluminium rolling mill, about £3,000,000 for a scrap steel mill, and up to £20,000,000 for an oil refinery. These three projects alone will provide employment for 850 skilled and unskilled workers. The aluminium rolling mill will start limited production early next year with the manufacture of corrugated aluminium sheet. New Industries New industries which have been established or will be in operation soon, include: Household flexible couplings, variable speed drives, worm reduction gear boxes, processing and blending of lubricating oils imported in bulk, soya flour, forge, harvesters, machine tools for sizing piston rings, wide elastic fabrics, belt linings, book matches, lace, flock coating- process, wallpapers, and oil filters. An Auckland firm has already received its first order for 5000 dollars worth of piston rings which will be sent to the United Statesand absorbed into the spare parts side of the motor industry to service the range of cars imported by the United States from Europe.

In step with this programme will be the expansion of existing industrial units and new units entering existing industries. The expansion will come both in the volume and variety of goods made in New Zealand.

This list is headed by the papermaking industry. New Zealand Forest Products, Ltd., will soon install a second papef* making machine which will extend its range of machine glazed papers, and the basic plant for a third paper machine and a second building board mill is on order overseas. The Whakatane Board Mill is installing additional machinery to increase output of its products, and the Tasman Pulp and Paper Company, Ltd., has also announced definite plans for the installation of a second machine and the entry into its operations of the Bowater Paper ’Corporation, Ltd. New Zealand Forest Products, Ltd., has also applied for a licence, under the Licensed In-

dustries Regulations, for the manufacture of paper and multiwall paper bags in the South Island. Expansion of Output Industries which are starting or expanding their production include: Petrol pumps, builders’ hardware, rotary wire brushes, high pressure boilers, vulcanised footwear, louvre windows, pottery, steam irons and pop-up toasters, laminated plastic, plaster coreboard, sensitised paper, wallboard, electrical wires and cables, foil laminates, cardboard cartons, industrial safety and protective clothing, road graders, soluble coffee, fork lift trucks, electrical frying pans and other appliances, fibreglass and fibreglass products, timber laminates, fluorescent tubes, duplicating stencils.

Shock absorbers, commercial type laundry equipment, plastic gloves, polyvinyl floor tiles, glucose and dextrine, mohair rugs, tufted carpets, outboard motors, power chain saws and power bench saws, steel wool, pressed steel enamel basins, copper bends and traps, coppered heating panels, fillers and cleaners for use in decorating trade, paint driers, electric vehicle hoists, domestic knitting machines.

Log haulers, curtain tape, anti-corrosive paints< liquid tile, marine resins, paste pigments and industrial plastics, launderers’ washing machines and tumbler commercial floor polishing machines, coffee percolators, film strip projectors, and light and heavy industrial equipment of various types. Saving of Exchange

With the exception of aluminium smelting, the savings in overseas funds when the above industries are established should exceed £8,000,000 a year. In addition, during the last session of Parliament, approval in principle was given to the establishment of a company to investigate the utilisation of New Zealand’s ironsands. Other major proposals under consideration are: Wire drawing, wire rope making, the manufacture of wharf cranes, and an extensive programme for the manufacture in New Zealand of components for motor-vehicles.