Limited Output In Fortnight

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30725, 14 April 1965, Page 7

Limited Output In Fortnight

Production in the cable and wiremaking plant, the only part not destroyed in the Waltham road factory of Urlwin Industries, Ltd., would start again within a fortnight, the managing-director (Mr R. A. Urlwin) said yesterday.

Mr Urlwin was talking to a reporter before he had been informed that the Minister of Customs (Mr Shelton) would make available immediately import licences to the firm for the replacement of raw materials and machinery. “Most of the plant in the west wing which was damaged by water and smoke was being repaired while the firemen were still fighting the blaze in the main factory,” Mr Urlwin said.

About 150 persons had been employed in the factory. “Of course, we will keep foremen and key staff on, and we will have something for others to do in the cable and wire plant,” Mr Urlwin said. “The Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association is being very decent, finding other employment for our staff and getting on to the Minister about new import licences for machinery and raw materials we will have to replace.” Mr Urlwin said that the factory was in the middle of its pre winter production of electric heaters. There had been 12,000 in various stages of production on the Eoor—

£36,000 gone up, and you wouldn’t recognise one of them.” “Yes, you can say that thousands of items have been destroyed,” Mr Urlwin added. “We have 1094 items on our production stock list, electric appliances, components, the lot. This was the main bulk store as well as production factory. From here, we sent the goods to our agents throughout New Zealand. “We will have to rebuild, and we will build better—we must. If the authorities give us permits, we will rebuild and it will be better. “Yes, the factory and contents were insured. Everyone is rallying round. We will go ahead. It is a set-back, but these things happen.”