Wire By The Mile

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31030, 9 April 1966, Page 12

Wire By The Mile

/Specially written for “The Preu” by

A. J. PETRE]

A MODERN country must have power, and to transmit and use this power it needs wires and cables. That is the business of Associated British Cables, Ltd.—supplying New Zealand with the wires and cables it needs for transmission lines, house wiring, appliances, car electrical repairs, and dozens of other applications.

Compared to some local industries, Associated British Cables is a youngster—it has been in Christchurch since 1951. The firm started with 21 employees, but now the airy, modern factory on the Main South road employs about 156.

It is one of the modern generation of factories, with the road frontage laid out in attractive lawn, with shrubs and gardens. The firm is justifiably proud of its grounds, and employs two gardeners. The firm was started as a result of import restrictions imposed in the early 1950’5. The Cable Manufacturers

Association in London, a group of cable manufacturers which exported to New Zealand, decided to set up a factory in New Zealand. Thus Associated British Cables was born. The factory was established in the South Island because of the availability of electric power. The range of wires and cable made includes house wiring cables, flexes, screened

Shift work is employed, one shift being from 9 am. to 4.30 p.m., with three nights overtime to 9 p.m. and overtime on Saturday, a total of 56 hours a week. The other shift is from 9 p.m. to 8 a m., 52 hours and a half The main machines operate 124 hours a week. Most of the main machines are in almost continuous operation, and the firm em-