Export Award Presented

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31016, 23 March 1966, Page 20

Export Award Presented

The “Industrial Register" export award for 1965, New Zealand’s first award for the export of manufactured goods, was presented to Mr T. L. Uren, managing director of Carbonic Ice, Ltd., at a function in the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association rooms last evening. The announcement of the award was made in December for the supply, ing of icemaking plant to 27 countries, including Alaska. The award is in the form of a plaque carved from kauri and exotic woods by a Christchurch artist. Mr P. M. Mulcahy. The shape symbolises the flow of trade, the centre panel taking the form of the Pythagorean triangle; for wisdom and the creative intellect. It is carved with the ancient symbols for the ele■K ments—fire, water, air and ||H earth: and for industry—the ||H city, metals, a spade, a hama tree, a crook, glass spirits of wine. Below it the ancient symbols for precipitation and

In accepting the plaque from Mr C. T. Sleeman, executive editor of the “Industrial Register,’’ Mr Uren said he was deepl” touched by the tributes paid to himself and his company. The award of the plaque was an honour to Canterbury, the people of Christchurch, and to the employees of his company in particular.

‘There is a real satisfaction in being confronted by a challenge, something the world needs, to build it and export it to the four corners of the globe in the face of world competition and in spite of the many disincentives and problems associated with exporting from New Zealand,” said Mr Uren. “It took the ‘lndustrial Register’ to provide the incentive and encouragement for manufacturers to make the effort to earn overseas funds the country needs so desperately.” He said he would always regard the plaque as a great source of pleasure and satisfaction. On every piece of ! wood he would see indelibly engraved the names and faces of all the who had I

helped his company in their export efforts, from the man who found the “unprocurable” nut and bolt to the man who took the door off an aircraft to load a box which was just too big. Mr C. W. Mace, president of the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association, said that a lot of the credit for what Carbonic Ice had achieved was the result of great personal effort on the part of Mr Uren. His enthusiasm was just what the export drive needed.

Mr E. T. Beardsley, former editor of the “Register” and originator of the award, said he hoped that interest in the annual award would be sustained and increased, because New Zealand had a tremendous future as an exporting country. He hoped that any interest in exporting the award generated would be reflected in increased effort on the part of manufacturers.

The photograph shows Mr Uren (left) receiving the plaque from Mr Sleeman.