WOOLPACK FACTORY VISITED

Chronicle (Levin), 25 September 1946, Page 3

WOOLPACK FACTORY VISITED

iviayor and councillors at foxton labour problem discussed On Saturday morning, at the invitation of Mr. F. W. Vickerman, managing-director of N.Z." Wooipacks and Textiles, Ltd., the Mayor (.Mr. R. E. Downes) and members of the Shannon Borough Council visited Foxton for the purpose of mspecting the factory of New Zealand Wooipacks and Textiles, Ltd. The visitors expressed surprise at what they saw and the extent of the factory, and at the conclusion of the visit admitted that it was in Shannon's interests to co-oper-are with Foxton in supporting what was termed the key industry of the Manawatu. Aecompanying the Mayor were Crs. R. R. Lind, W. Clayton, E. Perry, D. Higgie and H. Aitchison. The Mayor of Foxton (Mr. H. H. Podmore), who is also a director of the company, was present and extended a welcome to the visitors on behalf of the Foxton Borougn Council. Associated with Mr. Vickerman were Messrs. W. E. Hale (works manager), J. T. Smith (chief engineer) and E. W. Sutton imill superintendent) . The tour of inspection was personally conducted by Mr. Vickerman. "Here we have an example of an industry dumped down in a town which itself cannot flnd sufficient employees to fuily operate it," said Mr. Vickerman, in introducing the visitors to the factory proper. "We can flnd employment here for 500 people, 300 of- whom would be adult employees. To meet this need 100 more houses are required in Foxton and some 50 in Shannon, lor we must, if necessary, draw our employees from the area between Makerua and Foxton. Today we circulate approximately £2000 per weck — £1000 in the textile section at Foxton alone — and 90 of our looms are lying iclie through labour shortage. Our product is practically 100 per cent. New Zpaland. We grow our own raw materiai, treat it ourselves and turn out the finished article for use in connection with the wool industry, . and our importations ih the whole- of that process are confined to our wire and oil requirernents, in all not five per cent. of the value of our finished product. What you will see today is a permanent business, and one that will grow. There Is unlimited scope.for this industry apart from the production of wooipacks. Matting roanqfacture and our fibrous plaster trade have already made theifYdemahds, but there are many ..other avenues awaiting exploitation. This is not a Foxton industry , but a district institution, and the management is prepared to cp-opefate with anyone, anywhere '" for its beneflt. Today our most pressing need is more employees. For every additional female operative we put on, work is available for another male. We hope that you people in Shannon will be able to assist us in our problem, and I invite free and frank criticism and suggestions for the general good." The visitors expressed the greatest interest in the machinery and the explanation of its operation, and a round^table discussion ■ ensued at" the conclusion of the inspection. Mr. Downes expressed thanks on behalf of the visitors for the invitation to visit the factory, and said it was the first opportunity he had had of looking over it. "Lately," he continued, "Shannon has felt that it has been left out of it in the matter of industries, and recently a public meeting was held to discuss ways and means of attracting them to our midst. Tliis visit, however, has done much to improve our knowledge of this industry. I realise that flax today, more than ever before, must play a big part in the future of the Manawatu. Numbers of our men leave Shannon daily to flnd employment in the Moutoa swamp, and some of our girls come over here to your l'actory. I realise that Shannon must co-operate with Foxton in this industry. Is there any possibility of Foxton assisting Shannon with a branch of the industry in our own town? If this could be done economically, it would be a great help to Shannon." Mr. Vickerman said that it would not be economical to shift a portion of the plant to Shannon, but if it was ever found possible he was sure his colleagues would consider it. The matter of additional State houses for Shannon concerned the company, however, as accommoda- . tion was required not only in Fox- " ton but at Shannon, too, for the company's employees. Cr. Clayton said that Shannon should be right behind Foxton in pushing the woolpack industry. Speaking with 50 years of experience in the trade, he said that he had not seen anything to equal the matting being produced at the Foxton factory, and he prophesied a great future for this line alone. The Mayor of Foxton (Mr. Podmore) expressed' his pleasure at meeting the Shannon representatives as they had that day, and ■ said that a lot of good could result from fraternal visits such as that. . Both Foxton and Shannon were : vitally interested in flax and there was a bigger future than over in it today. "