MOTOR TYRE MANUFACTURE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 227, 24 August 1945, Page 5

MOTOR TYRE MANUFACTURE

THREE FIRMS FOR DOMINION. (Press Assn.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 23 The Bureau of Industry, acting in terms Of the Industrial Efficiency Act, 1936, has granted licenses to three tyre and rubber companies for the manufacture in New. Zealand of motor tyres. They are the Dunlop Rubber Company (New Zealand) Limited, the Reid New Zealand Rubber Mills, Ltd., and the Firestone Tire and Rubber Coy. of New Zealand, Ltd. The successful companies were notified of the Bureau’s decision yesterday. It is understood that several applications besides those granted were considered by the Bureau, which heard lengthv evidence by the applicants as well as interested organisations, including tyro importers, users and others affected. “But for tlie war permission would

have been given for the manufacture of tyres six years ago when the application was 'first made,” said Mr S. Innes-Jones, manager for New Zealand of the Firestone Company. “It was not until this year that application was again made, by prospective manufacturers.” , . Extensive additions to the Reid Company’s mills at Auckland will follow the granting of the license to that j firm. It is understood that the Firestone Company will develop its establishment in Christchurch. The building and extension of factories and the provision of machinery will require some time, and the companies concerned do not expect to he in full production for some months, possibly 18 months, it was stated today. Mr G. P. Kelly, manager of E. W. Pidgeon and Coy., Ltd., and the Goodrich Rubber Company advises that the license granted to Reid, New Zealand, Rubber Mills, Ltd., for the manufacture of motor tyres in New Zealand is a joint‘license in association with the Goodrich Rubber Company and E. W. Pidgeon and Coy.