FACTORY OPENED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27241, 18 November 1949, Page 3

FACTORY OPENED

EMPLOYMENT FOR SEVENTY VALUABLE LOCAL INDUSTRY The new factory of Regina Confections, Ltd., at North Oamaru, which will ultimately employ .15 men and from 35 to 40 women at a payroll of approximately £SOO a week, was officially opened yesterday morning. There was an attendance of approximately 50 business people and officers and members of local bodies representing a wide section of the community. The chairman of directors, Mr F. Carson, was in the chair and associated with him were Messrs J. M. Somerville (president of the Otago-Southland Manufacturers' Association), J. P. McNamara (managing director), M. F. E. Cooney (Mayor of Oamaru), W. R. Williams (Oamaru builder), and the Minister of Industries and Commerce, Mr Nordmeyer.

In extending a welcome to those present, Mr Carson paid a tribute to the builders, architect and others for the fine building that had been erected. Mr McNamara outlined the policy the company proposed to pursue.

“ We appreciate your coming to Oamaru as it is particularly suitable for this type of industry.” said Mr Cooney. The building was a model one and every facility had been made available for the staff. He expressed the hope that the opening of the factory would be the beginning of an era of prosperity and progress for Oamaru. The use of home-grown fruits in confectionery had been largely restricted to fruits preserved with sugar in the form of jam or preserves, and to the extraction of juices for the production of fruit jellies. Mr Nordmeyer said. The Regina Company intended, however, to extract most of the moisture from the fruits and produce a fruit-bar type of confectionery from partially-dried fruits almost wholly of New Zealand produce. Mr Nordmeyer, when speaking on the production of the factory, said that when it became fully staffed, 450 tons of sweets would be manufactured annually. Payments other than for wages for services in Oamaru would probably exceed £IO,OOO, he said. It had been the policy of the Government, he continued, to encourage the decentralisation of businesses such as the one represented that day, and it was always willing to assist firms starting up in smaller towns. The Government was anxious that the fullest use of up-to-date machinery should be made, as this encouraged efficiency and conserved man-power.

Mr Nordmeyer officially opened the factory by setting in motion the new master starch moulding plant, after which those present took the opportunity to inspect the factory and surrounds. They later attended a luncheon at the Queen's Hotel. The building was open for public inspection in the afternoon.