NEW DOMINION INDUSTRY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17233, 12 April 1930, Page 9

NEW DOMINION INDUSTRY

A GISBORNE-MADE CAR

Covering a new industry in tho .Dominion which lias sprung into being in Gisborne, an interesting, prospectus lias been issued by tho New Zealand Motor Manufacturing Co., Ltd., which purposes to raise £7OOO to purchase certain plant, equipment, and patent rights, and to enable sample cars of modern design to be built and exhibited as a preliminary to floating a company with a capital of £250,000 to manufacture vehicles in the Dominion on a large scale. Two complete New Zealand-made cars have already been turned out in Qisborue, and New Zealand materials have proved superior for this special kind of work. There is also tho fact that tho engineer, Mr. George Birch, who produced the two four-cylinder cars, is an engineering genius who is thoroughly competent to produce what is now being aimed at—an up-to-date six-cylinder car, with special front-wheel drive, and suited to all New Zealand conditions, at a price in the vicinity of £2OO per car. Mr. Birch, working practically singlehanded, has already produced two cars which compare more than favorably with similar models made in the bestequipped factories in tho world. Mr. Birch has had practical experience of all kinds of engineering work in England and in New Zealand, and has produced not only motor engines and motor equipment, but with limited resources ho has designed and made other machinery which would hold its own against any produced in tho best of factories. Those who take up shares in tho original company and finance tho preliminary operations will receive four preference shares in tho new company for each share held in the original company. Tho initial capital required is £7OOO in shares of £1 each, and tho minimum which will be allotted to any one shareholder will be 10 shares. Tho publicity which the project has so far received has been responsible for shares being taken up even outside of Gisborne, and the latest application camo from tho South Island. A number of local business men are keenly interested in the project. Those who are interested, and who desire to obtain further information than is contained in tho prospectus are advised to consult the organising broker, Mr. Chas. Ivess, or see for themselves the work which has already been done as a preliminary to commencing motor vehicle construction on a large scale in New Zealand. It may be thought that tho company is over-optimistic in announcing that it can place a six-cylinder, five-seater model with, front-wheel drive and fourwheel brakes on tho market for £2OO, but when it is remembered that an Australian company is being floated to do tlft> same, tho claim appears to bo reasonable.*