Computer-makers, your association needs you

By MICHAEL FOREMAN

A recruitment drive will be one of the priorities of Mike Cooch, the newly appointed chairman of the Computer Manufacturers' Association.

Mr Cooch, the managing director of Albany business PC assembler Samcor Computers, replaced PC Company chairman Colin Brown as association chairman two weeks ago, but Mr Brown remains a committee member.

The association, comprising nine local computer assemblers, had now covered its startup costs, said Mr Cooch. This had allowed a 50 per cent cut in membership fees, which he hoped would help to attract new blood. "There are now about 15 or so people we want to talk to," he said.

Committee member John Gould, director of Ultra Computer Company, said the association warranty assurance scheme, a fund started last August to ensure computer users received a full two years' warranty if any member went bust, had grown to nearly $100,000.

The size of the fund, which draws on a levy of $2.20 for every PC sold, indicates that members have sold about 50,000 PCs in a year.

However, members are not aware of individual manufacturers' sales as the money is paid directly into a trust fund.

Mr Cooch said that as no members had gone into liquidation, the money would be allowed to build up to a point yet to be decided, perhaps $250,000, when the levy would be lowered for existing members.

The warranty guarantee helped to make buying a locally assembled PC more attractive to customers, he said.

"Our products are competitive and many of us have been in business for longer than a lot of our so-called branded competitors, and we leave our profits on the ground in New Zealand. Those are not necessarily reasons for buying on their own but collectively they make a compelling case."

According to the association, local manufacturers account for between 35 and 40 per cent of computer sales in New Zealand, about 10 per cent behind Australian manufacturers.

"Predominantly those PCs are winding up in people's homes, in small businesses and in education.

'In those markets we are collectively quite strong, but one of the areas we are quite light in is in the Government."

Mr Cooch said he and Mr Brown were due to meet Bob Murdoch, head of a Government-supplier liaison body, in Auckland today to discuss computer procurement policies.

"We are going to glean information on what sort of policies and procedures we should be adopting to get on tender lists," said Mr Cooch.

Mr Gould said the talk with Mr Murdoch followed a meeting with Information Technology Minister Paul Swain, which he described as "very positive."

"Mr Swain was interested to learn that we represented quite a large and viable industry."