The Chairman of the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce describes the development and progress of the city and what it has to offer.
As a business centre it is ideally situated for the delivery and distribution of goods, due to its location between Wellington and New Plymouth, being well served by road, rail, coastal and river shipping.
The Public Works Department is making big improvements to the Wanganui – Raetihi arterial road which will bring Wanganui closer to a large central area, which has been extensively developed and more closely settled.
The harbour accommodates all coastal ships and creates direct contact to the North Island and South Island ports. Pre-war, overseas vessels also called directly to Wanganui.
The river boats offer a valuable service, which runs 110 miles upriver, giving access to a large area of back country, providing the river settlers with a regular service from the city.
New factories have been established in the last few years in Wanganui due to its central location. Earlier that year the local manufacturers association held an industrial fair, with 45 different trade exhibits of locally manufactured goods.
The city is known throughout the North Island as a furniture manufacturer and has
several large clothing factories. The locally made goods are distributed throughout New Zealand.
A recent survey disclosed that the total annual wage bill of the manufacturers of Wanganui amounted to 360,000 pounds. All the large stock and station agents are represented in Wanganui. Last year the local appraisement covered over 98,000 bales of wool, with a total value of 1,953,000 pounds.
Wanganui has trade and business organisations, such as senior and junior chambers of commerce. A strong manufacturer’s association looks after the interests of the manufacturers, while the employer’s association and trade groups are well organised.
Wanganui’s hours of sunshine were recorded in 1943, as seventh out of thirty five places in New Zealand, in 1944 sixth place and 1945 thirteenth place.
Over the three years they averaged 2,200 hours of sunshine a year.
‘The business men are public spirited and are always ready to assist any worthy object, a general feeling of good will prevails in the business life of this city. Wanganui is indeed, no mean city’