TYRE MANUFACTURE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 228, 25 August 1945, Page 4

TYRE MANUFACTURE

AUCKLAND FACTORY.

500 EACH DAY.

(Press Assn.) AUCKLAND, Aug. 24. A statement that his company had set itself a normal production programme of 500 tyres a day, as well as the necessary quantity of tubes, was made by Mr G. C. Reid, managing director of Reid (New Zealand) Rubber Mills, Ltd., when discussing the licenses which had- been granted to three companies for the manufacture of tyres in New Zealand. Mr Reid will leave New Zealand very soon to purchase the necessary plant and equipment and to make other arrangements ; to establish the factory on a sound footing. Mr Reid said the company proposed to build a tyre factory on its existing property at Ellerslie, where it was also expected to transfer the present Penrose plant next "year.

FACTORY IN THE SOUTH .(P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Aug. 24. More than 300 people will be employed if and when the Firestone Rubber and Tyre Company has its tyre factory operated under license working in the South Island. "Our investigations into sites for the factory are not confined to Christchurch. They extend over, the South .Island," said Mr H. G. Miller, factory representative of the Firestone Company cf Akron, Ohio, after he had inspected possible sites in Christchurch. An area of between 15 and 20 acres for the factory is being sought by the company and Mr Miller arrived today with Mr S. F. Innes-Jones, managing director of the Firestone Rubber "and Tyre Co of N.Z., Ltd. They met the Mayor (Mr Andrews) and discussed the site problem With him and later inspected the areas suggested as suitable. The rehabilitation of former sc-vicemen would bo conscientiously watched by the factory, said JMr Miller. Practically all the labour would bo New Zealand, not only for manual work, but also for executive positions. Most of- the equipment foi the proposed factory would be imported from England. The magnitude of the operations of the Firestone Company was mentioned. The volume of sales made bv the company last year was £202,000,000." The necessity for a site of from 15 to 20 acres was that the company proposed to build a factory with the maximum of light and healthy conditions for its workers and also to provide the wprkers with the fullest recreational facilities.