GREAT SHIPBUILDING COMBINE

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LIII, Issue 9417, 16 August 1907, Page 2

GREAT SHIPBUILDING COMBINE

MFSSRS 11ARLAXD & WOLFF JOI>J JOHN BROWN & CO. II is announced that a.n agreement hab been made far the amalgamation of tho i two graat shipbuilding and engineering i firinis of Karland and Woiff, of Belfast, and Tohn Bflown and Co., of Sheffield and Glydebank. The new organisation tivus formed will be the- greatest of Itss kind in tho world. Messrs iTarfand and Wolff already have the larjj.i.i single shipbuilding yard in the Wold ami (important engineering works at Belfast. They are also engaged now in equipping extra works at Southampton, j where it has been announced repairs aa-e 1 to bo made Tha bujildings ailone at Southampton will cost £30,000, and £100,000 worth of pSant will be installed. Messrs Harland and WtaJff kivfc ajso lodged w ith tJie BfQ-fast Harbor Commit , sioncrs a Bill flir nevr works involving an outlay of £50,000. Messrs John Brown and Co. have extensive shipbuilding yards at Glydebank, great Iron foundries, engineering shops, and ordnance wtrks at S'heffkjld^ and they afeo own cnai!. rnin^sTlie combination wjlll employ more Iftau 32,a)0 men, and will pay about £2.350,000 a year in wage» Mes&rs Hafland and Wolff now employ 12.000 men ait Belfast^ and another 4000 will probably be eamployed at Sr^uthamptton and at the new works in Btllfast, Avliil.3 Messrs Johin Brown and Co. employ at all their works about 16..000 Messrs Ilafland and Wollf pay about 4*1,1 00,000 a year in wages, while Messrs John Blown and Co.'s annual wages bUI is £1,250.000. Tho firm of Harlund <and Wc£ff was founded in 1858 by th© lato Sir Edward, then Mr, Harlland, who acquired a smal 1 shipbuilding yarnl of wliic-h he had been manager. Hje. was jom-.d by Mr Wolff in 1862, and in 1874 by Mr Pirme, now Lord Pirrie, who succeeded to the dTaarmanship on the death of Sir Edward Harland. The yards and works cover abtout a hundred acrws. Messis John Brown and Co. were organised in 1864 to (acquire the engineering works carrued on by tlie firm of that name in Sheffield. They tpok over the Clydebank Engineering and Shipbuilding Company in 38C*9, and in 1902 they acquirer! control of Thomas Firth and Sons, Ltd. Their capital is> £2,500,000.