A survey of the industry of clothing manufacture in the city of Wellington

Abstract

The purpose of this industrial study is to evaluate the geographical factors affecting the development of the clothing industry in the City of Wellington. The major portion of the information was darived from a series of personal interviews undertaken chiefly during the winter months of 1956. Inadequate accessible information concerning both the extant and location of the industry necessitated a door to door inquiry through certain sections of the City. Listings in the manufacturers' guides and the membership role of The Wellington Manufacturers' Association provided the basis for these interviews. They were executed with varying measures of success. The majority of Managers showed good interest in the project and cooperated to the best of their ability. Others believed the participation in the project to be a waste of their time and therefore to be treated lightly. Seven only refused any information, and one removed me almost bodily to the footpath outside. For this reason the total number of 138 reports are not all included in the findings of this study. The degree of sincerity and amount of factual information varied considerably, and doubtful reports have therefore been omitted in the compilation of statistics. The majority of calculations will be based on an average of 78 to 82 reports allowing for unavoidable omissions of information. A map of the distribution of the industry is not included owing to the extreme mobility and instability which exists. Between the time of completion of the reports and formulation of data approximately ten factories have moved their premises or closed down altogether. This same trend also applied to the lists with which I began the survey. The major part of the industry is located within a half mile radius of the Te Aro Post Office, together with Adelaide Road and Riddiford Street.