FORD MOTORS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20700, 13 April 1937, Page 9

FORD MOTORS

NEW ASSEMBLY PLANT OFFICIAL OPENING Congratulations to the directors upon their judgment and foresight in building a factory which represented another milestone along the road to complete industrial and economic development in New Zealand were extended by the Minister of Transport, Hon. R. Semple, when he officially opened on Wednesday last, the new assembly plant at Lower Hutt of the Ford Motor Company of New Zealand, Ltd. Almost every section of the business community was represented at the ceretnony, over which Mr G. H. Jackson, managing director of the company, presided. Ministers of the Crown who were present in addition to Mr Semple were the Hon. F. Langstone, Minister of Lands, and the Hon. H. G. R. Mason, Attorney-General. Mr Jackson, who welcomed the visitors, said the number of men employed in the factory on production work was over 600, the total number on the staff being about 650. At present the wage bill was over £17,000 a month. The plant had been designed to produce

five finished units in one hour. At the moment one complete unit was being turned out every 15 minutes. It was a matter of satisfaction to the company that only New Zealand labour was employed in that work. It had not been found necessary to import men to do the job. It was pleasing to record that the New Zealand workers were doing all that was required of them; they had adapted themselves to the ccnipany's methods and were giving first-class service. Mr Jackson said that the building had been designed in order to give the men the best possible working conditions. The motto of the company was safety first, and every precaution had been taken to see that the machinery was absolutely safe. Thanks were due to the staff and to all who had helped to bring the new works into being. The spirit displayed throughout' the whole organisation was wonderful. Minister’s Speech. Mr Semple, in an interesting and informative address, gave a resume of an industry which has made great strides during recent years. Replying to a presentation of a gold key from the directors, as a memento of the occasion. Mr Semple expressed his appreciation at having been asked to declare the new factory officially open. He said he had had an opportunity of inspecting the works recently, and was deeply impressed with what he had seen. Situated in ideal surroundings, it was really a model factory, and it seemed to him that the comfort of the workers had been made the first consideration. That was something worth while. "Happy surroundings breed happy folk, and happy folk are always contented,” said the Minister. “That lesson is manifest in this factory. Cleanliness is apparent in a most picturesque fashion.”. He was glad to hear the managing director (Mr Jackson) say that the New Zealand workmen measured up to those in any other country. He had always maintained that, given the opportunity, New Zealand workers were competent to hold their own with the best in the world. Facts showing the growth of the motor industry in New Zealand were cited by the Minister, who said that when the first car appeared in the Dominion in 1896 no one dreamed of the

development that was to follow. In 1898 the McLean Act was passed by Parliament authorising cars to be used on roads at a speed of 12 miles an hour or such lesser speed as might be prescribed, and providing that every car should carry a bell or other instrument giving audible warning of its approach or position. The speed record in 1898 was held by France at a speed of 39.24 miles an hour. In 1935 the record was held by Great Britain with a speed of 301.12 miles an hour. The number of cars in New Zealand in 1914 was 20,000, in 1925 123,000, in 1930 195,000, in 1935 214,000. and at the end of last year 241,915. “As far as we have been able to ascertain 118 additional cars are going on the road every day in New Zealand. Vehicle Imports. The cost of vehicles Imported into the Dominion in 1936 was £3,550,000; the annual cost of the operation of all vehicles was over £30.000.000. The number of persons engaged in the motor industry was estimated at 50,000, with a wages bill of at least £10.000,000 a year. Users of motor-vehicles paid in direct taxation over £6,000,000 a year. The motor industry, said Mr Semple, had not only revolutionised the transport system, but it had also revolutionised methods of road construction. In 1925 New Zealand had 700 miles of paved roads and in 1935 3000 miles. In 1925 there were 28.000 miles of metalled roads, and in 1935 37,000. New Zealand wa.di now the second most highly-motor-ised country .n the world, being second only to the United States of America. Mr Sample congratulated the Ford Company -upon its enterprise in New Zealand. “We welcome you here,” he added. “We are delighted with the results so far, we are glad to know that our workers are giving satisfaction, and we wish you every success.”