NEW INDUSTRY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 24, 16 November 1943, Page 2

NEW INDUSTRY

TO USE CABBAGE TREES FACTORY IX TK AROil A Headed by a syndicate ol' Te Aroh.i men. a new industry is about to begin in Te Aroha. The building which is to house it is not yet erectedj,. but a!! necessary permits have been obtained. Appropriately the site is to be on M.ll Street, which is oil Fma Street and it will be next door neighbour to the limber yard ol' Mi' !!. 11. Wood, a member of the syndicate. What it's all about was explained in a gesture by Mr Woo(J in an interview recently when he produced samples ol' beautilully clean anil springy white fibre. 1 his was obviously ideal lor upholstery and, to the experienced eye also had undoubted possibilities Cor the manufacture of fibrous plaster. What It's All About The fibre, Mr Wood explained;, was l'rom New Zealand's Cordyline Australis. commonly known as "cabbage tree." The company, it should be added, will be called the Cordyline fibre Company. The proposal is to make use of the huge quantities of these trees in, the- district ior commercial purposes and. it is believed that by cutting the heads only, there will be quick re-growth. !n any case the trees grow quickly and planting will be undertaken if lite venture proves a success. Although experiments have been going on for some years with cabbage tree leaves, it is believed that this will be the first attempt to use them commercially. An authoritative book on plant life was quoted by Mr Wood and indicated that the possibilities of the plant were, recognised. Authority Given The book indicated that the leaves offered paper-making material of high value. Samples sent to England a quarter of a century ago were worked up at one of the largest. mills and. realised high, prices. Owing, however, to the excessive costs which would be involved in carriage and sea freight, no venture was undertaken. The book goes on to say that possibilities for local industries could be explored and that the wood, of the plant also possessed valuable qualities for papermaking purposes. The leaves, it also slated, offered valuable fibre for the manufacture of siring and cordage. Actually, it is explained, the cabbage tree is of the palm lily vari-et\-y and is the largest member of the species in the world. Ready Market The Te Aroha syndicate has enlisted the aid of a botanist for research into possibilities but in the meantime all plans, and construction are going ahead. A ready market is foreshadowed by the fact that a syndicate of leading fibrous plaster manufactuiei - s has agreed to buy a'! products for the first year. Mr Wood stressed the point that such an 'industry would help the district and that there wou;ld, be no objectionable features. Local application of the industry would only produce the lib re., and though this AYOiild be washed in Lipsey Creek, which runs past the site of the proposed operations, the water would not be contaminated iu any way,, nor would objectionable, refuse be going into the Waihou river.