I.W.D. in environmental control programme

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33064, 3 November 1972, Page 7

I.W.D. in environmental control programme

Aetc Zealand Press Association) NEW' PLYMOUTH, November 2

A major management restructuring move was announced to the shareholders of Ivon Watkins-Dow, Ltd, New Plymouth agricultural and industrial chemicals manufacturer, by the chairman (Mr D. A. Watkins) at the annual general meeting.

Mr Watkins becomes chairman of the board’s executive committee, replacing Mr W. G. Watts, of Auckland, who has retired but will remain on the board, and Mr R. F. Bollen, who arrived | from Dow Chemical in August as general manager, becomes managing-director of I.W.D. The company has been without a managing-director since February, 1970, when the Dow appointee (Mr H. C.

Visgeri became general manager He returned to the United States last August. New growth of the company has necessitated management changes including the re-appointment of a managing-director, Mr Wat-

kins said. Mr Bollen will! serve concurrently as Dow’s I regional general manager for! New Zealand, and the' position of general manager i of I.W.D. will remain vacant.! Mr Bollen said I.W.D. had ■ acted on its own initiative in adopting an environmental improvement and control pro-' gramme. “This programme is not just because of Government pressure, but because we feel ■ a civic obligation. One of our aims is to ensure that none | nt our products will rate less than the quality standardsl required by the Government. 1 and preferably much higher,” he said. ’

At the same time he said • environmental control mea- - < sures could not be accomp-1: lished without some increase): in costs “to keep the com-i pany healthy and profitable,” >: and he noted that I.W.D. had! not increased prices ofl branded agricultural products in the last two years. However, negotiations had been continuing since Febru- j ary between I.W.D. and the Government for freedom to move prices. Mr Bollen said.

The meeting confirmed the ; director’s declaration of a ) final dividend of 5| per cent, | making a total dividend for : the year of 11 per cent, the ; maximum allowable under 'economic stabilisation legisI lation. Shareholders also approved the issue of a further 150,000 ordinary 50c shares to be I reserved for allotment to staff. Earlier staff share allotments have been exhausted.