A Pioneer of New Zealand Industry

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 46, 25 February 1936, Page 4

A Pioneer of New Zealand Industry

ME. W. McHAEDY FORMAN TO RETIRE

It was announced last week that Mr. W. McHardy Forman will shortly retiro from the position of managing director of General Motors/ New Zealand, Ltd. At the request of the present company, Mr. Forman will remain permanently in New Zealand, as resident director to act in an advisory capacity. The eight years during which Mr. Forman has occupied the position of managing director have seen remarkable changes and developments in the motor industry in New Zealand. It has been Mr. Forman's policy throughout this time to encourage the use of all available materials which cau be procured locally. It is nearly seven years since he commenced experiments with regard to the use of New Zealand made upholstery in motor-cars and it was only after two years' work in close association with the local woollen mills that the typo and- quality of material required was eventually arrived at. Mr. Forman also sponsored the use of New Zealand timber ih connection with building commercial bodies, and installed in the company's plant at'Petoue a body-building department to enable New Zealand timbers to be used. It is mainly due to the initial experiments of Mr. Forman that such large quantities of New Zealand birch are how ex-

ported to Australia for use in motor body building and other industries in the Commonwealth. Since ho took over the managing directorship the wholo of the factory administration and sales staff have become British. Instead of bringing fully qualilied men from overseas to fill positions which Mr. Forman felt should be occupied by Now Zealanders, he has adopted what is possibly the more troublesome alternative of training local men so that the company might as far as possible produce a New Zealand product for New Zealanders by New Zealanders.