Big Factory Audience Listens To Minister

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31170, 21 September 1966, Page 12

Big Factory Audience Listens To Minister

The Minister of Overseas Trade (Mr Marshall) was given special treatment in a Christchurch clothing factory yesterday. While he made a speech in the workroom of W. Selby (Wholesale), Ltd., 150 factory girls left their scissors and sewing machines to listen. Some of the girls'climbed to vantage points to take movie and still photographs of Mr Marshall. While Mr Marshall ate morning tea, at least half a dozen attractive models, wearing Selby fashion garments, waited on him. Then, in honour of Mr Marshall’s visit, the girls were treated to “piped” music by Irving Berlin, played through a public address system. Mr Marshall presented the Trade Promotion Council’s export award to the firm in recognition of significant contributions to New Zealand's export drive. It was received by the general manager (Mr B. Zeff). Mr Marshall said that New Zealanders were gradually overcoming their inferiority complex about manufacturing. “We are producing many products which are as good as anyone else can make, and you might even say better,” he said.

The president of the Manufacturers’ Federation (Mr J. R. Maddren) said Mr Zeff had been one of the pioneers in the export field. He had successfully marketed one of the most competitive commodities that could be marketed anywhere.

Mr Marshall presented a similar export award and pennant to Carbonic Ice, Ltd., of Christchurch. He said the

company's export record was a remarkable achievement.

In a relatively short period, the firm had made export sales of carbon dioxide and dry ice plants that most New Zealanders would not have thought possible. The sales ranged from small items, worth less than £l, to complete carbon dioxide plants, priced up to £34,000. They amounted in total to hundreds of thousands of pounds. Mr Marshall said he believed that Carbonic Ice had even made sales to Alaska.

“I would say that selling ice to Eskimos is about the highest test of salesmanship,” be added.