A NEW INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 24, 23 October 1920, Page 11

A NEW INDUSTRY

MANUFACTURE OF RUBBER PRODUCTS ATMIRAMAR t STRIKING SERIES OF DEMONSTRATIONS, PEVULCANISATION OF RTJBBEE AN ACCOMPLISHED FACT. (Published By Arrangement.) Every year over .£1.000,000 worth of rubber good 3 is imported into the Dominion, which is entirely dependent on overseas supplies of this commodity. New Zealand mil, however, shortly be in a position to produce the whole of its requirements in the. 6hape of articles ol rubber manufacture, Yesterday saw the dawn of a-new era in this respect, when practical demonstrations of' the manufacture of rubber products were given lit Miramar under the auspices of th« New Zealand Rubber Products, Ltd. In the presence of a representative gathering of heads of various Government De partments and business men of tho city an interesting series of demonstrations was carried out at the company's commodious factory adjacent to the tram terminus, Miramar, all of which provori conclusively that by dint of their, secret process the company can devulcaniso (or ,'revivify") rubber, and successfully blend it with plantation rubber. De- ' Juonstratlons were also given of the induction of a marketable rubber comnosi tion. Those present at the demonstrations included Mr. Aston, of the nnnlv. tical bTanch of the Agricultural Department; Mr. Newnhnm, representing the Public Works. Department: Mr. G. * Troup, representing .the Hallways Department; aricl Messrs.'W. B. Montgomery, William Campbell.- H. Wardflll. W. J. Ross, R. M. Griffiths, and the following members of tho directorate <>i the company: Messrs. ,7. Baxter (chairman). T. Gray. W. H. Bnlliuger. R. F. Stepfiens, Thomas Wagg (Mastorton). E. 'A Craig (Auckland), and tho secretary, Mr. H. C. Stoddart. In welcoming tho visitors, Mr. Baxtei Raid that the industry wa9 the first oi Jfs kind in New Zealand, and when established proporly it should result in a big saving to tfie 'Dominion. In this connection approximately ,£1,000,000 was ■Wasted each year in New Zealand at the present time in the shape of discarded rubber goods (motor tyres' and tho like), for which there was no use, all of which "wa6te" the company wonld ■ultimately bo in a r-osition to turn to good account. Mr. Baxter went on to speak of tho benefit the company would be to the country onco if was property ' established, and also of the possibility of file extension' .of its manufacturing operations. It aimed at securing the bulk of the trade in rubber within the iJominion. The visitors would be shown that day the commercial davulcanisAtion of rubber. They would also see the flumonslrators take an old motor„tyre, strip lt'ol'iis rufibcr and fibre canvas, and then mate what was claimed to be .tne finest rubber dough in tho -world by 'mixing this waste rubber . wit!) new (plantation) rubber and certain chemicals. "You will 6ce also," he - added, "how all classes of high-class rubber goods are manufactured. We claim that our' rußber- products will bo .equal to any manuiactnre'd in' any part' of the world." Mr. Baxter went on to point out that the main object of the demonstrations was to give ihe "lie direct" to allegations that shareholders were being hoodwinked. The chairman next touched on the company's latest process for the mixing of canvas and cotton fabTics with rubber dough, out of which the finest of linoleums, boot-soleing and other rubber composition materials wei« manufactured on the premises. The party were then shown' over the plant by the officials of the company, and numerous practical demonstrations were given on the lines indicated by the chairman of directors. The company, it was explained, has acquired the New Zealand rights of certain processes and formulae along with a patent for mixing vegetable fibre with rubber. The processes were demonstrated by the small army of -.worknion ; retained by. the com"pa'ny, and the visiters were' also afforded an opportunity of witnessing the manufacture of first-class rubber dough at a proved coat of lljd. per lb. The company has a big plant, and the whole of this was seen 'in operation, turning out .ill manner of -rubber goods, from boot heels to floor coverings. A quantity of this special composition was shown first in the making, and next being converted into linoleums, boot-soleing material, bag-making material (to take the place of leather), floor and roofing tiles. In fact, "everything that Tubber touches'' •will come within the scope of the company's operations. It was explained that the company did not fill the, pure plantation rubber with anything else but. a soft, placid devulcanised rubber of its own special manufacture. ,The product turned out was in consequence 00 pel cent, pure rubber, consisting of Taw plant rubber and a proportion of "re-1 vivified" rubber. From that dough the . company was turning out all qualities oi rubber,' including motor tyres and tubes. Independent of "revivifying" rubber., the plant is also capable of making pure rubber at a price, it is claimed, considerably below tho cost of production in any • other country. The nature and proportion of the materials U6ed in the manufacture of the various products were disclosed to various Government officials who have certified as to the cost oi manufacture being correctly stated. In this connection household linoleum has been manufactured by the company a) a cost of lapproxiVnatflly 2s. Gdl.i pot . square yard—a very low figure. Apart from'its durability the merit of tho rubber composition turned out at the company's works lies in its flexibility cou- '' pled with the fact that it will not crack, no matter how it is rolled, twisted, oi ■ bent. The company already has in hand plans for big extensions of its works, . and much valuable machinery (additional to that already installed) is on order. During the day the visitors were the guests of the company at luncheon, in the course of which the directors were accorded s rote of thanks on the motion of Mr. H. Wardell. Before the visitors left a certificate was largely signed testifying to the bnna-fide nature 'of the demonstrations. On Tuesday, next, members of-Parliament will be shown over the works by the directors and treated to another series of demonstrations.