GLASS MANUFACTURE

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 58, 10 March 1938, Page 10

GLASS MANUFACTURE

WORKS AT ASHBURTON

NO GOVERNMENT AID

An adverse report having been given by the department of Industries and Commerce, the Government has decided to take no action to assist the glassworks at ,Ashburton, according v to a statement by Mr. H. E. Herring, M.P., says, a Christchurch correspondent. yThe Department's officers inquired into the'1 causes for the closing, down of the.works more than six years ago by the Southern Cross Glass Company of New Zealand, Limited, and also investigated the economic problems associated with the reopening of the works.

With: an authorised capital of £250,000, of which £127,929 was paid up, the company was formed in 1926. By the time the depression set in the company was manufacturing' 'goods of excellent quality. However,.'the demand was not sufficient to justify a continuance of manufacture, and as the annual report of 1933 to shareholders i stated, the works were closed during the unfavourable trade conditions. - : : ,: . ■ ■ : . .. . ' .

An inspection of the factory and plant was-made by the Minister of Industries and Commerce (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) more than a year xago, and in their last annual report the directors stated: "So far the company has received no word as to any intention on the part of the Government to assist in our resuming manufacturing, either on the original lines or any other branch of the glass industry." At the time the investigations were carried out by the officers of the Department, no application had been made, it is stated, for a State subsidy to assist the industry.