WOOLPACKS AND TEXTILES

Chronicle (Levin), 1 April 1947, Page 3

WOOLPACKS AND TEXTILES

PAST YKAIt REVIEWED The maximum dividend allowable under the articles of association was passed for payment at the fourteenth annual meeting of direc■fcors of New Zealand Woolpaek and Textiles, Ltd., held in Foxton last v/eek. The managing-director (Mr. F. W. Vickerman) , i n -presenting his annual report, summed up the past year's activities as follows: — "Due to the shortage of female workers, particularly in the weaving department, the output of woolpacks has been. disappointing, for whereas on a 44-hour weekly basis the plant is capable of producing 900,000 42 inch, 9 lb. woolpacks per annum, or, on a 40-hour weekly basis, 720,000, 1946 resulted in an output of only 256,050 packs, thereby registering the lowest output since 1936. This prospect of- a reduced output was forecast last year and it will be appreciated that future output prospects are definitely allied with the avaiiability of laboiir. A fuller appreciation of the labour position will be gained from the following comparative requirements 'of personnel: To carry out production on the same basis as last year, Le.,.250,000 packs per year, with the same output of matting and processed flbre for plasterers, upholsterers and other purposes, requires the seiwices of 91 men in harvesting and stripping the green leaf and processing the flbre, which, when it reaches the textile section, provides employment for a further 186 people. (137 males and 49 females) or a grand total of 277 person^. With an ascending pack output, these totals move up as follows 500,000 packs, plus sundries, require a total of 425 workers, whereas 720,000 will require a total of 510 workers,. From this outline it will be realised that, subjeet to the provislon of houses to accommodate prospective labour, the company is on the edge of an expansive programme advantageous not only to...the surrounding district, but to ihe whole of he Dominion. "Shareholders will be interested to learn," continued^ Mr. Vickerman, "that as far as it is known, the company's method of dyeing and subsequent drying of the -^oloured yarn used in the matting is an entirely new departure in dyeing technique and procedure. Incidentally, had the method ! adopted not proved satisfactory, and the adoption of the more conventional methods of dyeing flbre or yarn been necessary, the prodpctipn of coloured idaatiing would have been impossible'" under the presen conditions. The company's output of matting; -"has -found' a ready sale and of furthei inferest "the process fbrms ihe basis of a Government • fllm "Patterns ( in Flax" at presfent oh circtiit. . "The diversion of the Manawatu River through ,jthe Whirokino. Cut. has" 'resulted ih ' that* portion of the river which - previouSiy : flowed past Foxton becoming a tidal lagoon. Towards the end of 1945, because of salinity of the water of the lagoon, its use for boiler feed, in starch tubs and dye kettles was discdntinued, water instead being drawn from the borough mains, with the subsequent necessity of installing in the year just closed water-conditioning plant at a total cost of some £900. '

"The continued deterioration of the water in the lagoon, and the increase of salinity, has so affected its usefulness for flbre washing purposes in the stripping mill that plans are being made for an alternate supply . point from the Manawatu River, somewhere above the Whirokino Bridge. Another difficulty experienced through the diverting of the Manawatu River is that other means will now have to be found for the disposal of the mill effluent, which for years has been carried down by river water. Both these projects are now receiving consideration, but whatever the outcome the alterations may prove costly." , Mr. Vickerman at this stage went on to deal fully with the annual accounts, and in concluding his report paid grateful tribute* to the Minister of Industries and Commerce, the departmental officers and members of the staff for wholehearted and at all times willing assistance during the year. In moving the adoption of the report, Mr. M. E. Perreau eongratuLated the directors on the progress shown during the past year and spoke in eulogistic terms of the; part N.Z. Woolpaek and "Textiles,: Ltd., was playing in furthering the: interests of the community generally. Mr. A. B. Taylor, supported by Mr. H. H. Podmore, paid tribute to the efficiency and loyalty of the staff and the capabilities of the managing-director (Mr. Vickerman).