BUSINESS EXPANDS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 75, 30 March 1939, Page 11

BUSINESS EXPANDS

LOCAL PRODUCTION

ACTIVITIES IN FACTORIES

A number of instances of expansion in the manufacturing field in the Dominion were outlined yesterday by the Minister of Industries and Commerce (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan). In the Wellington district, said Mr. Sullivan, knitting mills were expanding their production in men's, women's, and boys' outer wear, and also in materials manufactured from cotton and wool and woollen yarns. Increased production, was also reported oy a nrm of galvanised hollow-ware manufacturers, and this firm was turning its attention to the manufacture of wheelbarrows. "Early next month," he said, "a factory will be completed for the manufacture of wooden lasts, and five key men and their families will arive at Wellington. Further: capital investment is being made by a firm of dyers to increase their productive capacity to meet the greatly increased demand for goods to be dyed locally as a result of the import selection scheme. Canister makers report that they are receiving steady inquiries for all classes of canisters and, in particular, for screw-on bottle tops. "Tenders were recently called for the erection of two factories in one of the suburbs of Wellington, one to manufacture a well-known line of health salts and the other to produce toilet and medicinal preparations. Proposals are also under consideration by a number of people,, for the "manufacture of radio cabinets and bakelite products. ENGINEERING TRADE. "These new factories and extensions to factories and plants are benefiting materially the engineering trade and engfneering firms report that they themselves are having to install extra plant and extend their activities to meet the greatly increased demand for machinery. At the same time manufacturers of subsidiary fittings for factories are being beneficially affected by these building operations. "One Wellington laundry is extending its premises to cope with the increased business which is expected to arise during the period of the' Centennial Exhibition! < "In Christchurch one - firm which is extending its activities into some lines of builders' hardware has decided to install new machinery to cope with the volume of production required. Increased employment has been given as a result of another firm having just begun the manufacture in quantity of radio coils. • "In Southland the manufacture of partihment lamp shades; has been conducted in a small way in the past, but a company- is now being formed to finance the manufacture of these goods in greater quantities to meet the demand which- formerly was supplied from overseas countries. It is intended also that spark guards will be manufactured by this company. The business men of Southland are fully alive to the possibilities which are now presented of embarking upon the estab-1 lishment of new industries, and proposals are being considered whereby a number of new enterprises might be set up in the province." •