Television firms face collapse

Press, 24 March 1988, Page 5

Television firms face collapse

PA Auckland The country’s televison assembly industry faces total collapse, according to the Electricians and Electronics Workers' Union. ;i "The (reality is that there will not be a television set made in New Zealand 5 by June,” the union annual report says. The union’s secretary, Mr John Fisher, said on Tuesday evening that the manufacturing firm Philips-Pye, would lay off television assemblers from its (Wellington plant in June.’About 300 staff could lose their jobs. Sanyo j New Zealand, Ltd, had also given notice of redundancies at its Mount ’ Roskill plant, where 45 staff were employed. ? • ( These i announcements follow the decision of Thorn-E.M.I. to close its Mangerej factory at the end of the month with the loss of 100 jobs. The union’s annual re-

port,' said, “We have watched the demise of the television manufacturing industry in spite] !of numerous warnings tp the Government if it was not careful no television j set would be assembled locally if it went ajhead with' its plans.” Most New Zealand manufacturers were| suffering badly because] of a large influx of imports from low-wage economies such as Korea ! and Taiwan,' the report said. ' It was clear, it said.’, that the Government was prepared to let consumer electronics face these market pressures, in, spite of many submissions to the Minister of Trade and industry, Mr Caygill’ and extensive lobbying throughout the industry. “We do not seq the sense in destroying an industry that has provided training for technicians and production workers who can manufacture and service high value products.” IL.