MAJOR VENTURE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26226, 9 August 1946, Page 4

MAJOR VENTURE

COTTON MILL PLANNED ERECTION IN SOUTH ISLAND MILLION POUND CORPORATION (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 8. With a capital of £1,000,000, the Cotton Textile Corporation of New Zealand is expected to begin operating a cotton mill in New Zealand about August or September of next year. When in full production, the mill will manufacture about 4,000,00 yards of bed sheeting and pillow cloth and 1,500,000 yards of shirting and grey calico.

The whole of the capital of the company, which will be divided into preference and ordinary shares, will be offered to investors in New Zealand. The site of the factory has not yet been decided, but it will be in the South Island and will cover 25 acres. Skilled operators will be brought from England to train a New Zealand staff. It is expected that employment will be available

for about 800 to 1000 when production is in full operation.

Construction of the mill will be started by February next and the first shipment of machinery will have left England by that date. Mr Edward Williamson, who will be managing director of the new company, said to-night that New Zealand at present imported each year about '£900,000 worth of cotton yarns, grey, bleached, dyed, and mercerised. The consumption of sheeting in New Zealand was about 6,000,000 yards yearly. The production of the factory would be slightly less than the Dominion’s requirements. To arrange for the purchase of plant and machinery and its delivery to New Zealand, which has been promised for an early date, Mr Williamson will leave for England, via Australia, on August 21. While in England he will also engage technical departmental managers who will leave for New Zealand immediately the first shipment is due to be despatched from England. It is expected that in the next two years, 30 families will be brought to the Dominion as a nucleus of a trained staff and to train New Zealand operators.

“ It is the intention of the company to erect the cotton mill section as quickly as possible, so that yarn can be produced to supply the urgent needs of New Zealand,” Mr Williamson said.

“The weaving section, which will be the second part to be built, will follow closely ont the cotton mill. Bleaching and dyeing plants will be built in quick succession.” The buildings would be of the latest design and air conditioned throughout, Mr Williamson said. Dressing rooms, foot baths, baths, first aid rooms, rest rooms, canteen, and a’roof garden would be provided for the staff. There would also be park lands to provide playing fields.