GENERAL MOTORS

Southland Times, Issue 22993, 12 September 1936, Page 19

GENERAL MOTORS

A Decade of Progress

THE 37,575 th CAR

In the year 1925 the land where the factory of General Motors (New Zealand, Limited) now stands was a plot of untidy neglected ground in the heart of a growing industrial centre; along its boundary ran a newly constructed branch railway line, and eight miles away was the city of Wellington. No services were there, no heat, no light, no water, no drainage—nor was there even a road to connect it to the main traffic arteries.

A year later on this site stood a modern motor car assembly plant ready to start operations. It was General Motors’ recognition of the potential market of the Dominion, one of the world’s most highly motorized countries. The ten years that have followed in the history of General Motors (New Zealand, Limited) are a record of achievement—achievement in applying overseas production methods to local conditions; and achievement not only in setting new records for this type of manufacture, but for actually inaugurating it. General Motors were thus the pioneers of the New Zealand assembly of motor cars and trucks. Only.eight months from the beginning of operations saw the 1000th Chevrolet produced in the Petone plant. By 1929, 12,000 cars and trucks had been driven off this same assembly line. Recently General Motors celebrated their tenth anniversary—with the production of car No. 37,575. It is not generally known just how much work in the fabrication of these locally assembled cars is carried out at the Petone plant. It is not merely a matter of attaching a body to a chassis. What are actually received in New Zealand are simply stamped body panels, girders stamped for chassis frames, and the myriads of elaborate mechanical and electrical parts for which only overseas can the necessary mass-manufacturing machinery be economically operated. Everything in fact that can be done in New Zealand by New Zealand labour is done here; frames are riveted together, bodies are assembled and welded piece by piece, each department carrying out specialized operations perfectly timed so that as the car moves along the assembly line the appropriate part is ready waiting.

As the car grows and nears completion, it absorbs New Zealand materials and other locally produced items. Outstanding among these is New Zealand cord upholstery manufactured from New Zealand wool by New Zealand mills. This is only one instance of how General Motors have been actively responsible for the actual local production of many of the component parts of motor cars previously not manufactured in New Zealand.

And now, facing a bigger market than has ever existed before in New Zealand—an index of returning prosperity —General Motors find it necessary to undertake yet further building operations to provide additional storage and operating space, and greater efficiency of working. To come through the trying years of the depression without loss of standing, to enlarge and develop existing factory production in New Zealand, to provide employment now for 675 New Zealanders, to spend in New Zealand in ten years on local materials and operating costs (excluding salaries and wages) approximately £3,000,000 and in salaries and wages another £900,000 is a feat of which any business might be proud. General Motors have made a distinct contribution to industry in New Zealand, and in doing so, to the wealth and prosperity of the Dominion.