Motor Firm Interested In Mill Again

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30367, 17 February 1964, Page 10

Motor Firm Interested In Mill Again

(From Our Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, February 16. The Standard-Triumph Motor Company is again interested in acquiring the factory building at Annesbrook, Nelson, which was to have been occupied by the cotton mill enterprise of Smith and Nephew, Ltd. Standard-Triumph became interested in the building as a possible site for its main motor-vehicle assembly in New Zealand spon after the collapse of the cottqn mill project early in 1962.

The company’s interest in shifting its main assembly factory from Christchurch to Nelson stemmed largely from the provision of a vehicular ferry service between Picton and Wellington. Later, the company announced that negotiations for the acquisition of the cotton mill building had been abandoned. A few days ago executives of the firm visited Nelson arid looked at the Annesbrook building. The chairman of directors (Sir Leonard Isitt) said tonight: “We have the matter under consideration at the moment. There Will be another meeting of my board this week and after that we will have to have talks with the Government.” One of the big factors in any decision which StandardTriumph makes to shift its main operations from .Christ-

church to Nelson will be the’ provision of a direct inward shipping service to Nelson. To keep costs Witbin economic bounds it would be necessary for car components from the English factories of Standard-Triumph to be Unloaded at Nelsori and riot to be shipped from Wellington. Opening of the port of Nelson to a direct shipping service would conflict with the recent recommendations of the committee on streamlining port use in New Zea-

land. The committee sees benefits in reducing the number of secondary ports Visited by ships of the ’Conference Lines. The Government’s efforts to dispose of the cotton mill building have now taken two years.

It acquired the land and buildings for £280,000 when Smith and Nephew, Ltd., wpre compensated for the cancellation of the cotton mill agreement. Food canning and wood processing industries are amoing several which have looked at the building and decided hot to buy.