A NEW AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 255, 23 July 1919, Page 6

A NEW AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY

MONEY IN EUCALTPT FIBRE. From the bark of the eucalyptus trees, which cover millions of acres of Australia, can be produced a fibre which, it is olaimed, will make the Commonwealth independent of Indian jute goods and New Zealand flax, save millions of pounds annually from being sent overseas, and create employment for thousands of Australian workmen, while at the same time supplying the consumers with Roods at less cost than, but of equal ciualit? to, the imported article. The originator of this proposition is an Australian in tho prime of life, Mr. \V. M. Billings, whoso researches and experiments of (he past fifteen years on his farm and workshop at Wottgu Park have now passed the stage of theory and entered the zone of practical economics. At his model factory on the banks of the Saltwater River at Footecray, near the swing bridge, Ifr. Billings exhibited to a representative of "Tho Age" samples of twine, rope, and sticking made from cucalypt fibre, together with sundry marketable by-pro-ducts of the industry, which themselves possess potentialities hardly less in magnitude than the primary products of the hark.

Mr. Billings has offered tli'e process and other rights to the Returned Soldiers' League for development solely in the interests of the returned soldiers. Should the inventor's claims justify themselves under rigid investigation and exhaustive trial, and, should it ho a'blo to persuade the Minister to Rive his support, an industry could ho inaugurated which would 1m capable of great expansion and would rtargely lielp to solve the unemployed soldier problem.

Tho country districts will probably bo surprised to see tho now stylo girl cyclist, for she has adopted a uniform very like that of the land girl.— Chester Guardian."