NEW ZEALAND GOODS

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 30, 29 October 1921, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND GOODS

THE EXHIBITION THRONGED

THROUGH THE MACHINERY HALL

“ODDS AND ENDS”

As the visitor wanders slowly round the stalls of the Wellington Industrial Exhibition and sees what this eighty-year-old country is producing to-day, he meets here and there a prejudice against the local in favour of the imported article. It is absolute fact that there are those who are prepared to pay more for an inferior article from abroad than for the better one locally made. That prejudice—a malignant, scowling, no-account fellow—has to be fought in the interests of the country as a whole.

Perhaps there is no more striking illustration of the "surprise" industries of this country than can be seen in the Machinery Hall, in Cable Street (which needs a distinctive exterior sign, and the use of a water-cart outside. Here may bo seen —in some instances working —machinery that many city folk imagine is - imported. It would pay dijiry farmers to come to town to have a look «t the compact little plants especially designed to lighten the lot of the small dairy farmer. These are mostly specially designed petrol-burning engines, so quiet Jy competent, so strong, simple, and compact that one cannot imagine a dairy without such a power plant for the milking, the can washing, and the churn. There is one model 2i li.p oil-engine made in sections, so that every working part can be seen in action, working away silently with no one in particular in attendance. An attached card states that everything in the engine, save the magneto. and spark-plug, was made in New Zealand. Near-by is a device for packing butter in the block for' export, and a few yards away is a machine for "pounding” butter, i.e., dividing it into ill dunce blocks. The bulk butter is placed in a trough, the lids are closed down, and by compressed air, a ram with a battering face the exact size.,of the trough slowly pushes the butter through thvee square holes. As the butter exudes in a long bar it travels on wooden rollers until they are covered, when a lever, which controls a six-wired cutter, is pulled down, thus dividing the whole of the visible butter into neat 11b. blocks. The .trough holds 801 b.. In the same exhibit is a massive 30 h.p. stone-crusher, capable of dealing with eighty cubic yards of metal per day, A 8J h.p. engine for farm use (on a aled) is also a model of compression and efficiency. Across the way is a unique display of ploughs, disc harrows, etc., from a Christchurch firm. The New Zealand Forestry Department has an exhibit of New Zealand woods which cannot fail to catch the eye. There may be seen exquisite specimens of figured rimn. wonderful panels of totara, kauri, and puriri knot,- samples of New Zealand beech, an astonishing exhibit of bent wood, showing what can be done with New Zealand woods with the aid of the steam box. Visitors are asked to inspect the mantelpiece of figured rnnn. which stands within the rotunda.

It is not generally known that the secret. of making good putty in New Zealand was discovered six weeks ago. For years past Mr. W. Jackson, of Wellington, has been experimenting with linseed oil and white chalk, but, though he often despaired, he never gave up, and only six weeks ago he struck it accidentally, and is now, it is claimed, turning out as good a class of putty as there is in tho world. The chalk is a pure white, and comes from Canterbury (near Oxford), where there is a whole hill of it owned by a Air. Bunn. As far as Mr. Jackson is aware this is tho only pure chalk found outside England and France, and will be of very great value, as ho is sure that a big demand will come from Australia in time, A factory for the manufacture of putty is to be set up at East Oxford shortly. *

There is an exhibition of rubber products which must command attention. These range from little mats and counter flaps to motor-car tyres. The New Zealand file companies have good displays of roofing-tiles, and there is a fine show of gears and gear-eufters by a local engineering firm of repute.

A southern firm shows car-bodies on two ears. Nothing better has been seen in Wellington—not even on the most expensive cars.

Returning to the Town Hall, attention should be drawn to the striking exhibition of work done by the soldiers who have undergone a course of vocational training. The variety of articles made and the quality of tho workmanship employed indicate that capital work is being dono in rehabilitating the aoldier into avenues of employment ho is fitted for after “the great adventure.” This exhibit is on tho choir terrace, just below the organ.

The Department of Trade and Industries and Cbmmerco have an “odds and ends” curiosity shop. Therein are all sorts of goods of the class ono would never suspect were made in New Zealand. Who, for instance, knows that Now Zealand stamps are printed with New Zealand-made ink? Yet such is the case. There aro samples of these printing inks on view. There is a looseleaf card system for invoices in a cab-inet-made box. most exquisitely finished. It looks American—it is good New Zealand. There is a pulsator (of a milk-ing-machine), a milk-testing machine, a Hutchison scale which not only tells the weight, but the price to charge; a sample of meat-flour, rubber hats and gloves, leathern motor-coats of fine finish, ’cellos and violins from a Dunedin maker; cloth in the rough and finished; wool from the sheep’s back to the neatly-plaited top; a novel display of ornamentations in icing sugar; New Zealand gelatine (which has stopped all importa’tion), and wire nails of various sizes.

There were good attendances of the public both in tho afternoon and last evening. Reports received by Mr. H. F. Allen, secretary of the exhibition executive, show that young New Zealand is taking a warm interest in the exhibition. A rota is being arranged by the secretary of tho. Education Board for the primary schools of the Wellington district. Tho pupils will visit the exhibition, in turn, during the mornings. Students of colleges will also have facilities to sec tho exhibition. Mr. Allen states that the whole term of the exhibition will bo required to give all tho young folk a chance to visit the Town Hall and the machinery hall.

The following articles descriptive of collective and individual exhibts, and also of New Zealand goods generally, are PUBLISHED BY ARRANGEMENT.

HINTONS, LIMITED FRUIT PRESERVERS. DUNEDIN. A comprehensive exhibit of jama and canned fruits is made by this progressive southern firm. Crowded out of the Town Hall itself, the exhibit gains individuality and impressiveness from its light and airy location in tho Machinery Hall. The history of this firm is an example of the potentialities of small beginnings. The present manager '.ar. J. 11. Hfatoni began by making jams on the kitchen range for his retail business. Tho success attained warranted extension, and year by year the industry has grown, until last season some 70 hands were employed in the factory, many hundreds of thousands of pounds ot truit being preserved in the various processes. The climate of Otago is peculiarly suitable for fruit growing. The coastal districts grow to perfection the If“3CIPP? 1 f “ 3CIPP ? raspberry and tho succulent black and red currants, so much prized in the North Island, whilst the I yj r<l / vl 1 nt l dry hot summer of Otago Central deielop the full rich flavour of tho stone truifs. making the apricots, m particular, the finest in the world. usinr Hinton’s have the .reputation oijnß the very best fruit: in fact, some of-the growers complain that they are to particular.” Be that as it I may, the iesuits prove the wisdom of the policy, as their products have a reputation for quality from Auckland to Bluff and in England, America, and Ceylon.their'lines are in ready demand. o i B , an "/Perfection in Preserves, and it take* living up to. Working right J 1 ’* season with wide open, doors, the management assert they have ." pthl t ng hide,” and welcome inspection at any U Hintons’ claim to nave been th? first to seriously tackle the canning of dessert fruits,’ peaches, pears ' i A prl | C l ?‘”’ ve n! nectarines to coinpete • and known packages put up ''u J r in later years in Australia In tnen whole output was sold before it was packed; but this year th ® Australian fruits, dumped on this in r ket regardless of cost, made it apparent that dessert fruits could be packed only at a loss. Operations in this line wete x therefore 'suspended, and the firmi is noi waiting with interest to see whid.-j sisfance is to 15 “ for the conibefore deciding on its P o Vcy d 0 „ (hn fruits: Australian <5 per Z Mr TI Hinton. r st C ates that the tins are made closed, and labelled by. machinery, made, ci , , gooseberries topSrandtailecb" and peaches are peeled p,e ; f I VL Am nnit-cots, plums, nectarneeled peachA p , nr ,4 gooseberriesmes. apples, ( l uin . ...i.lrii makes the hXewi culinary clainties. 3 not only of many people wWch , g Messrs. Burch, and Co.. Ltu., Wellington agents. NEW ZEALAND ‘TIMBERS A display showing the New Zealand PY'rranlcs ot woodwork, tlic I • . tsTonfcmed that there m no class o attracts the eye as being both^iand enough. where stien n tli » -I 0 , 1-iiah n„ »£, x; in.’appearance, and possessing aven’ greater strength. This wood is used for coachbuilding tvork It is fallacy to suppose that imports conserve local supplies of tunbei. J ILa other hand, they are more often ! in a complete handbook on Newflland’s timber resources winch is dis buted by those in charge.

no-rubbing laundry help AND OTHER HOME NECESSITIES. Lady visitors to the exhibition will 1-ecnlv interested in the excellent disnhv staged .at the Harbour Boards Budding Messrs. Thomas bin ay and q on Ltd. of Auckland, consisting o Laundry Help, Soap, Candid l oot and Floor Polishes and Writing lab lets. 1 Laundry He p has had an enviable rise into popuhu favour, test beeau.se it is a scientifically prepared product which materially leduces the arduous work connected with the weekly "washing <lay”-w hmh. ot couiso, is part—and an important pint, of tho regular household duties devolving upon New Zealand’s womenfolk. . "No-Rubbing” Laundry Help is now used from the North Cape, to the Bl nil, and its manufacture maintains a busy staff of workers, engaged in the above firm’s four-storied factory in Victoria Street, Auckland. . . Other products manufactured in 'ho same factory are the well-known hoop Smiling” Boot and Hoor Polish*. , Golden Rule” Soap and Cand cs, vetp Smiling” P'umiee boa pt and Golden Rule” Writing Tablets complete a very imposing array of most popular goods, essential in every home, deservedly ao when it is realised that these splendid goods, of tiie very highest finish and quality, are made in New Zealand by New Zealanders for Now Zealanders.

NEW-ZEALAND’S INDUSTRIAL $ DEVELOPMENT WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE WOOLLEN INDUSTRY. Scarcely a. day passes without some special reference, through 4 tho public Press, to new economic difficulties, first in ono country audl then, in another. Trade, commerce, and finance apparently are almost in a state of chaos. Great anxiety exists in tho minds of the politicians, cis well as the employers of labour, as to what is best to bo done to moot the unemployment difficulty. In this respect New Zealand is perhaps the most fortunate of nations. It certainly has its troubles, financial and otherwise, and the country is not free from the unemployment difficulty. Tho regularity of employment and tho cost of living, it is not an exaggeration to say that New Zealand is one of tho most desirable places on earth in which to live, especially for English-speaking people. The easy mode of living has tended to make the people somewhat lethargic, but if we could cultivate a little more of the American spirit of pushfulness ■ there is plenty of room and opportunity for a tremendous forward movement, both with regard to agriculture and secondary or manufacturing industries. The newspapers are becoming thoroughly alive to the necessity for a distinctly forward movement, demonstrating the undoubted fact that in human life the interdependence of the various classes of people renders it necessary to promote co-operation. Tho writer desires in this article to say something about the importance of wool and the woollen industry to New Zealand. When we consider wool, in the classes which are obtained from tho breed of animal for which Now Zealand is famous, this product stands in the front rank. .In the early days, when tho population of this country was a mere handful, there were far-seeing men who realised that a country could only progress by the industry of the people. These pioneers were not content with Providence providing the, sunshine and rain to enable the sheep and cattle to live; consequently they determined to convert the wool by their own labour into articles the people needed; thus in a very primitive way the woollen industry was established. Tho general public was unsympathetic, if not openly hostile, but in the face of great difficulty the industry struggled along with what help it could secure, and 1 it can scarcely be wondered that the earlier results were crude when compared with the products of the 01<l World, where tho industry had been established for centuries. However, the promoters forged .ahead, with the result that the woollen manufactures of New Zealand in certain classes are now known all over the world. There is to-day in this country ample opportunity for trained men and women to obtain constant employment in this industry. It is hoped that the movement now going on will succeed in creating a national interest in the products of onr own people. The exhibition which is being held in Wellington should in itself stimulate public interest, because it - clearly demonstrates that the countrv possesses not merely the necessary raw material but also the people have,tho intelligence to produce in great variety good's equal to anything that can be made in any other country. Timo does not enable us to give details regarding the various classes of exhibits—each exhibit speaks for itself —but some public interest might he awakened if the writer were to give his impressions of a stroll through a woollen mill and later on a hosiery mill. Wool Stores. • Although a wool store is a more or less uninteresting place to visit, it does impress one to see such a huge number of bales of wool waiting to go into consumption. When we realise that there are 11 mills in Now Zealand, and that each mill must have its own storehouse, we are at once convinced that wo ape dealing with an industry of great importance to the country. Sorting. To the uninitiated the occupation of a man at a wool-sorting table is a mystery. From every fleece he is picking out a large number of different qualities of wool, although the casual observer fails to detect any material difference. We are, however, assured that upon the proper sorting of wool very largely depends the uniformity of the article from which particular goods are to be produced. Scouring Department. 'Hie next visit was to the scouring section. Nobody appeared l to have anything to do. The machines were doing all the'work. We watched the wool as it camo from the sorters’ hands—greasy and discoloured, but having been fed into one end of a very long machine, it was automatically delivered 1 at the other end beautifully clean, nnd wot. While in this room we had recollections of the old method of taking wet wool out in tho siin to dry, rolling it up every night in waterproof sheets, day after day, maybe, until ready for manufacturing, but in this case the wool as it left tho washing machines—and had 1 to bo dried —was put into a huge contrivance, and at the other end a few minutes later was delivered from the machine beautiful wool, white, clean, and dry. That portion of the wool which had to- bo dyed was conveyed direct from the washing machines to The Dye-l-lousc. Here huge quantities of wool were being dyed in various colours, tho best and most expensive dyes being used, in order to secure, as far as is humanly possible, fast colours. In this department wo see tho remains of the oldfashioned system—the dyeing' tubs—evidently used to a slight extent for small parcels of particular colours. Hero the men have to keep the wool constantly on the move in the dye with large poles, as was probably done hundreds of years ago. In tho same department are. to be seen big modern machines, certainly more useful than ornamental (because beauty in construction so far as the outward appearance goes has not been considered), but the internal mechanism must be perfect because the machine receives huge quantities of wool ready tor dyeing, and after a comparatively short time delivers it perfectly ciyed, every particle being exactly the same, as good as, if not better than, would be possible unaided by machinery. There are several small intermediate processes which can be better understood when seen than it is possible to convey in writing, but having left the dyehouse, the wool is then passed through a drying machine and is dried as dyed wool instead of white wool, as before described. It then passes through other processes such as tensing, mixing, etc., before being ready for the Carding Machines. These machines arc truly wonderful, being from end to end about GOft. long and about Bft. wide. A mill hand takes the wool all ready and properly mixed in colour, quality, and grade according to the article to ho produced, and it disappears at one end of the machine. After travelling along numerous huge drums in which are fastened thousands of small combs, the wool is first straightened out, mixed, and as it proceeds on its journey it comes out in tho middle of tho inacuino as lengths of wool about eight inches wide nnd ono inch thick. It again disappears in tho machine and ultimately, lifter travelling a lorg distance is delivered on to huge reels as yarn, untwisted. Tho writer was looking anxiously for the experts to keep these lingo complicated pieces of mechanism in order, but he saw no ono except the men who fed the rough wool in one end of the machine, and those who took the reels of untwisted yarn off at tho other. Knowing that there 1 must bo somo other ruling or governing

brains to keen these machines in perfect tune, wo asked, ‘‘Where are tho experts?” and the answer was ‘‘probably reading a newspaper, because when the exports in this room are doing nothing tho management knows that everything is going perfectly, and as all the machines appeared to be working perfectly, to lie an expert in this particular work evidently gives a man plenty o c opportunities for improving his mind.” The next process was Spinning. A most interesting process. It takes tho yarn as it leaves the carding machines, and by a very ingenious process twists and stretches the yarn and winds it on to bobbins. It is quite remarkable that whereas the carded yarn has no strength at all, it requires quite an effort to break the same wool after it has been properly twisted. One thing struck the writer as being somewhat amusing. The machines are called mules, a most inappropriate name, because, instead of this machine showing any degree of stubborness, it possesses almost human intelligence, and each and every thread was twisted up to the last point possible. Weaving Department. The wool lias now become yarn on bobbins ready to be used in the weaving department into which we now proceed. Before attempting to describe this most interesting process, there is one thing which the writer thinks must strike every visitor, and that is that amid the noise and clatter of a large number of these huge machines, throwing their shuttles over 100 times per minute, in the process of weaving, the girls working tho machines converse with each other without any apparent effort as if there were perfect silence, whereas the visitor feels that ho needs some special appliance to enable him cither to hear or bo heard. Before proceeding to examine the looms, wo take a cursory glance at the warping mills. Apparently a very simple process, but undoubtedly an important one because the'warp is really the foundation of tho article to be produced. Whether it is flannel, blankets, rugs, tweeds, or any other article that has to be woven, the warp must be perfect. The warp is the longitudinal threads in a piece of cloth, and must therefore be arranged in proper sequence to give the desired pattern. There was one point that appeared to bo remarkable that in certain classes of work, notwithstanding that each loom was throwing its shuttle 100 or more times per minute, so tuned and so perfect are the adjustments of the modern loom that a girl can sit and rest herself while the work is going on. Of co'urse she never knows the moment when she may have to stop her loom for some adjustment, still the looms appear to he as nearly automatic as is humanly possible. It is astonishing the variety of .goods that can be, and are, made in our New Zealand mills by the aid of a loom. Milling Department. Travelling along, we arrived at the milling department. Here the article, after it has left the weaver’s hands, passes through a wet process, known as milling. This process, while reducing the length, felts it together, and makes the article firm and durable, and in many classes of goods the future life of the article very largely depends upon how this particular process is carried out. The finishing now begins, and varies according 'to the article. The next process is what is known as tentering. I’or this purpose a huge machine is used into which the material is fed, and after passing through the machine, which is heated to a very high temperature, the tweed is returned to the feeders practically dry. The next process is that of raising and cropping. Tweeds are passed through a. machine which gives a face to tho article. It is really a cutting process, and the machine has to be. adjusted to quite the thousandth part of an inch, so that, in passing through, the knife may not damage the tweed in any way. It has just to do this facing processnothing more. Whore the nap nf the article has to be raised as in blankets and rugs, nature has so far held her own. A very remarkable looking machine has attached to it a huge roller and this roller is filled with thistle heads of a particular kind, and the blanket or rug passing in front of these heads has the nap raised. No mechanical appliance has ever been invented which can produce the same result as this ordinary thistle head known as the teazle. Wo have already passed through minor departments where keen eyes are looking for flaws or any foreign matter that has accidentally found its way into the article, and the nimble finger follows the keen eye, and all the imperfections are speedily removed. There is no machine for this purpose. The final mechanical operation is that of pressing where the material is wound on a perforated roller under great tension, and the application of dry steam puts on the final finish for tweeds. Occasionally we read the opinions of people who usually do not know that in some way or other the Now Zealand mills and factories are not" up to date. It is in this department that one’s attention is drawn to the fact that it is not so. There are standing idle a number of costly machines for the pressing of tweeds on the hydraulic principle which until about eight years ago was tho accepted method for performing the operation of pressing. Tho process just described is the newest process, and in thia respect, and indeed every other process in the manufacture of woollen goods the writer was assured that there is no more modern plant in existence for the manufacture of woollen goods than that installed in the New Zealand mills. Tho goods are now practically ready for tho final finishes, final examination, labelling and packing ready for tho warehouse. To avoid this article being of undue length many processes have had to be left unexplained, but some mention should bo made of the stocks of yarn. We commenced our peregrinations in the woolshed, with its huge stock of wool as taken from the sheep’s back, and we finish with a visit to the yarn section where are stored in almost bewildering numbers, qualities, colours, and weight, yarn ready to ho drawn upon so that the various designs and patterns for whiqh special yarns are necessary may bo obtained. Hosiery and Knitting Mills. We have already described how yarn is carded and spun. The process of yarn making for hosiery and knitting is exactly tho same as for tweeds, but the yarn, instead of going to the looms, is passed on to various kinds of knitting machines, according to the thicknesses of yam and the different qualities and classes of articles required. Here again, as in tho other processes of woollen manufacture, the machinery is practically automatic, and attendants are only required to correct any unforeseen happening, such as the breaking of threads, etc. One girl looks after several machines. The hose and half-hose are mostly knitted on circular machines, of which, however, there is a considerable variety; some of the machines knitting the socks in continuous lengths and leaving only the seaming to bo done, namely, the clos. ing of the. toes; others knitting only one sock or stocking at a time. The larger garments, such as men’s shirts and pants, jerseys and sweaters, and ladies’ underclothing arc knitted on huge machines, making each garment in sections, and knitting six nr eight of these sections of the. garments (as, for instance, fronts or backs) at one time. To ladies used to the laborious knitting by hand, one stitch at a time, those big machines must appear marvellous, for every click of the machine, instead of one stiteli as would lie done by hand, knits a whole row or course of stitches on six or eight garments simultaneously, each machine doing some 70,000 to 200,000 stitches per minute.

The next operation, as in woven cloths, is the darning, to repair any imperfections or damage that may have occurred while on the knitting machine, and again, as in tho case of woollens, the darning does not mean the simple operation known to housewives in darning socks and other garments. For darning that is done by experienced darners at the mill every thread has to bo placed with due regard to its colour and to the weave of the cloth in exactly the same position that it would have been put by tho loom or knitting machine, so that when the darning operation has been done at this stage in any fabric it is > quite as perfect as though no flaw ever existed in that epot. Tho next process is tho seaming; fluseaming being tho closing-up of tho toes of socks or the seaming together by special machines of the various sections of tho larger garments. Then follows the washing process, which is equivalent to tho milling of cloth, then the drying and pressing, afterwards tlie mounting, which is the putting on of flannel bands and facings, tapes, buttons, etc. The hosiery is now ready for packing into neat parcels ready for the distributors. The writer realises how imperfect any sketch must be of a visit to works of the kind described, and how true is tho old adage that one-half of tho world has no idea how the’ other half lives. After seeing what one has seen in the two separate establishments, and remembering that the same processes are being carried on in either or both of the industries under review, in every province in New Zealand, one begins to seo of what tremendous national value such industries must be —tho huge amount of raw material consumed; the numbers of men an<J women, boys and girls usefully employed in providing articles of necessity. The woollen mill and the hosiery mill are not concerns engaged in the production of luxuries which may border on extravagance, but provide tho source from which are obtained articles that everybody needs. In going through the works referred to every courtesy was shown to the writer, but without any desire to give offence, it seems to him that the manufacturers aro somewhat to blame that they have not in the past made greater endeavours to enable the public from time to time to see through the works, so that they may have the same opportunity of not only being interested, but instructed, as the writer had on his recent visit.

A MILK ENRICHER LINSEED OIL, “MOOSE” BRAND CATTLEI CAKE AND MEAL. Those who have scientifically studied the ingredients of linseed are only beginning to realise its possibilities as a food. Already many farmers in Canterbury liava turned their attention to cropping linseed, as they are now assured of a ready market for all the seed they may produce. Linseod has, it is known, rare medicinal values, but it has been found 'that the meal and oil which is produced in the crushing process makes a fine, stimulating and fattening food for cattle —a food that is always a welcome variant to tho ordinary pasturage, but is almost a necessity in certain districts, where the natural feed is not as good as it might be, or perhaps in those countries where the grass withers easily without regular rains. _ _ /■ To cater for this need —and it is it®, real one—the N.Z. Cattle-cake and Oil Company, Ltd., of Auckland, are putting forward products which must appeal io th j cattle man, especially when he finds that his butter-fat per ccutage is draping. An essential ingredient in linseed is the oil, which is rich in glyecral, nnd fatty and oleic acids, and when crushed the'bran, not only retains its mucilaginous qualities, but is soaked in tho oil, the combination haying been highly nutritious for cattle, pigs, and poultry, so much so, that a stock of ' Moose? Cattle-cake is becoming _ almost a necessary adjunct to fanning life. To meet the new demand, the Company has erected a big up-to-date factory at Otahuhu (Auckland), where the linseed meal, oil, and the cake aro being turned out in big quantities. Tn these days when milk is precious, the meal is an excellent substitute for milk food for tho calves, and it is unrivalled as a fattening food for dairy stocks. It is also a general tonic for cattle, and is being generally used by farmers when preparing prize stock for tho show-ring. The building in which the linseed is treated is Ibuilt of concrete!. It is well' lighted, and leqtiipped with the most modern machinery. Tha seal, which is all grown within the Dominion, chiefly in Canterbury, comes to the door of the mill in the railway trucks, it is tipped into a receiver, th-ctacs/ raised by means of an elevator to three laroe silos situated at the top of the building. Each of these has a capacity of about 300 tons. At the base of each is a sliding door, and through this the seed is conveyed to a second elevator and thence to the cleaning machine, where any 'impurities,, such as weed seeds or foreign matter that may be contained in the samples, are removed. The impurities are conveyed into bags attached to this machine, and the pure sped passes into a large wooden hoppei. From this it is taken along by a spiral conveyor at the rate of over a ton an 'hour, to the crushing rollers, which are in an adjoining room, there aro five crushing rollers, of metal, and arranged one above the otqer. As t«o seed passes over them it is crushed to the consistency of fine bran. In this stale the oil is more easily extracted than would he the case if the seed were not subjected to that treatment. ‘lTie crushed seed is then taken by an elevator to the cookers, which are jacketed evlindrieal x’ato. They nro heated by steam, which is not allowed to come into contact with the meal. ‘ts temperature is raised to a point that is considered suitable, for oil extraction, while in the cooker the contents are kept agitated by means of a revolving apparatus. .Two to three hundredweight of meal are placed in tho cooker for treatmeut at ono time. . From the cookers the meal is automatically to the presses, which is spread out in layers of seme 22 inches long by 14 inches wide. As tho visitor watches the attendant filling tho press ho is able to observe that the mcabis placed on a strong woollen cloth, which is laid on a stout steel plate, and that a second woollen cloth and frteel phi are further placed over the meal. As filling of tho press progresses the layers sink automatically until fi'B’jß m co™nleterl. Each press when fully charged contains 30 layers of the ground nical. A pressure of al-out 000 tons, or tin co tons an inch, is then brought to bear on the contents, and the oil is seen to trickle freely from the press, whence it is led to a largo tank, allowed to settle and is filtered through special Preconducted to a reservoir, Mid aftorwaids pumped to the maturing tallies, 1 aro arranged in an adjoining storage chamber, where we noticed a lar °? ™ in . l ' her of galvanised tanks of from xOOy to 3009 gallons capacity; lin these th 9 manufactured oil is allowed to ripen before it is placed on the market. After the removal of the oil tho presses are emptied. What were previously loose lavers of meal are now solid cakes —Unseal cake—which may be ‘-old to Hio stockmaster and utilised as food, or I'hese are passed along to a machine in which they are broken into jmiall pieces; in other words, 3 a ® "nutted," and in this condition they aro conveyed to a hopper, thence to a lar-re trav, and ground to t.io dem..d fineness bv means of two granite rollers, each estimated to weigh about .three tons. The meal afterwards passes tmo " receiver, and is then idled into bags readv tor dispatch to purchasers. J no equipment aho includes a special machine for the manufacture? of of this meal. It is anticipated th..t these will found convenient in. lee - ing to stock. Tn the process of piessing the whole of the oil is not removed from the seed; about 9-1(1 per cent, is left in the cake. This high feeding properties, amt ensures a cake is not over hard. The composition of the manufactured meal is as l oll . ows: 1 ’ tein, 30 per cent.; carbohydrates 37 per cent.; fat, 9-10 per cent.; m< n «t« ' - 9 per coat.; ash, 7 pej' cent.: fibic, 7 ] ci cent. As giving somo indication of tho importance of tiic- new industry it may bo stated that two stacks of seed which

we saiv during our visit were valued at over .£20,000. The industry will certainly stimulate farmers into growing larger areas of this valuable crop, which will siiccceq in many parts of tho Dominion. There is an interesting exhibition of tho linseed, the meal, oils In various stats of refinement, and the magic-work-ing “Moose” brand cattle-cake.

N.Z. MADE IRON AND STEEL THE OTAGO IRON ROLLING MILLS CO., LTD. “]'rmo”°ir R 0 lr ™ a,l <l steel is made, are situ<>f^)„n t oi® rC °m 1 Island ’ four miles south ot Dunedin. Ihe works and yards cover several acres of ground and give emplovmont to a largo number of men. This industry was established bv Smellie Bros., about 35 years ago, and from a very small beginning has grown year bv jear until it has attained a leading place among the important industrial concerns of the Dominion. The gradual growth of the works and development of the industry are the best testimony to the thoroughly dependable quality of New Zealand iron and steel. For many years past it has been used expensively by engineers, blacksmiths, the New Zealand Government Railways, the . Public Works Department, and the various harbour boards throughout the Dominion.

The company's display at the Industrial Exhibition shows a few of tho many sections manufactured. A very interesting and most important feature of the display is the section showing some of tho New Zealand Government Railways’ requirements manufactured from “Irmo" iron. Th© wheel shown is the standard wheel for the whole of the rail, way rolling stock, including railway carriages. For tho last twenty years these wheels have been manufactured exclusively from “Irmo” iron. During the whole of this period not ono failure has been recorded, which speaks volumes for tho quality of tho material, and is a record of which the company is justly proud. In describing the actual process of making "Irmo” iron one’s attention is first of all attracted to the great heaps of every imaginable class of old iron, which is the raw material from whidh the bars aro made. This consists of old boiler plates, ship’s plates, 'horse shoes, engine parts, broken implements, and a thousand and one other varieties of waste material brought together from all parts of New Zealand and places abroad, including Australia and South Africa. The material is cut down into convenient pieces at a gigantic shearing machine, and put together in tho form of a "pile.” a sample of which is shown at the exhibit. This pile is put into the furnace and brought to a welding heat, and when in this fusible state it is taken to a steam hammer (one of the largest this side of the Line), and hammered and solidified until it becomes a solid ingot. The ingot is then taken to the rolling mill and rolled into what are known as rough bars. This complete?, the first process. The second or finishing process is then entered upon. Tho rough bars are cut into convenient lengths, and piled one on top of the other in layers of five to six deep, and again placed in tho furnace and brought to a welding state. At the rig Tit moment these piles are taken to the finishing mill and there rolled into whatever shapes or sections aro required. This method of, rolling gives what is known as "fibre” to the bars, which is a very important and necessary essential, especially when the demands are for a high-gradat material to withstand severe shocks. Tho different sections rolled are rounds, (squares, flats, angles,, tees, convex and special shapes according to tho various requirements. “Irmo” iron is specially suitable for making horso shoes. The shoes exhibited have all been made from “Irmo” iron, which proves conclusively that the quality is exactly right. Anyone who knows what a severe punishment iron is subjected to in the manufacture of horse shoes will fully appreciate why “Irmo’ iron has such a good reputation throughout the country. During the war period the supplies of imported iron were almost entirely cut off. The company during, this period was taxed to its utmost to meet the country’s demands. New Zealand alone could not supply the necessary raw material; but the company rose to the occasion, and, after a great deal of trouble and anxiety, succeeded in purchasing several thousands tons of scrap iron from South Africa. At this time ships‘Were very scarce, ond the company was forced into tho position of having to buy its own ships for the carriage of its own goods. The scrap iron was eventually landed in New Zealand, and at that time actually saved the situation, enabling many engineering works in the Dominion to carry on which otnerwiso would have been impossible had bars not been procurable. Quite recently the company's famous barque Antiope, which was commisifoned to bring further supplies of scrap iron from Africa, was destroyed by fire at Delagoa Bay- . At the conclusion of t-he war the chairman of tho Parliamentary Industries Committee expressed his appreciation to the Otago Iron Rolling Mills Co.. Ltd., for the valuable services it had rendered to the country during the shortage of supplies brought about: by the war. Reinforced concrete is now being extensively used in Now Zealand and the company specialise in iron and steel bars for this purpose. All bars aro made to comply with the British standard specification. The cold bend tests shown in the exhibit are above that required by the above specification The manufacture. of the whple of “Irmo” products is carried out by skilled workmen under careful supcrviSl ln’ conclusion, this important local industry requires tho country s suppoit, to which it is justly entitled.

“THE BLUE BIRD” METEORIC CAREER IN CONFECTIONERY. When Maeterlinck wrote his beautifully symbolic fantasy, “The Blue Bird,” with its sympathetic appeal, its terrifying pathos, and brilliant glimpses of sunshine, ho had half the world guessing at what tho Blue Bird, which Myltyl and Tyltyl pursued represented, whilst tho other half, most of whom had been on n similar search, only smiled. They knew that the elusive “Blue Bird” meant one of tho hardest things in the world to attain—complete happiness. It will bo remembered that the little searchers think they have attained the object of their search oh several occasions, hut they never do —it all ends as dreams should end—in impenetrable mystery. Mr. R. Ginsberg, when he happened in Wellington just a little over two years ago. knew all about ‘The Blue Bird ” and conceived the novel and altogether delightful idea of making his confectionery salon in Manners Street (next the Grand Opera House),, a central point that would radiate happiness, and with a keen capacity for the business, a fine sense of display, the best stock of pure and wholesome sweets possible to purchase, lie has succeeded so t*i‘ | ho claims to possess .the largest retail confectionery establishment in two years —which is an achievement. As -Hr. Gtesberg keeps the best mo st and sells at tho cheapest, he may tairiy claim to have, in a commercial vej, captured the Blue Bird, and use of the name, as every child ana every other adult in the only know tho outsu’t but the interims nf the alluring Ginsberg stores. f The proprietor is not a manu^ ctU iS>th .. man cannot attend to both ends of such a business—and in the case of the “Blue Bird ., shops (there are two of them now), it canbo said without deviating from the strict truth that these hvo businesses i ve been built up by the personal canicitv energy, and trade artistry of Mr. Ginsberg. He was not content to sit behind the counter and wait half an b°u before a customer gave him an excuse to < t f c most comprehensive in ita tb r o ihe humble C e GiSsbere personally guaranty that J iJ(the case Can a man do more? origin 1 ’ “ BIUO Bird” is cegcd to

tho soufh-west corner of the Grand Opera House. Ono has only to look for tlie best-lighted window in tho locality to single it out. There every kind of sweet, candy, toffee, etc., may bo had pure and fresh, and at the lowest cost. For tho convenience of patrons of tho theatre a new entrance has been provided on the eastern side, and has proved a boon to the public. Here the sweettooth can find just what is wanted in.a minimum space of time, and be back in the theatre in a minute or two. Summer is hero, and the warm weather approaches—and to meet with the anticipated demand Mr. Ginsberg has enlarged his summer drink department. The other “Blue Bird” shop is in the centre.of Manners Street, and there again distinctive window displays and interior arrangements make it a dispensary ot the sweetest happiness. Air Ginsberg has lately purchased the stock of “The Dainties” 7 -quite near his own theatre ehop—and is selling it off at figures not to bo resisted. A WIN AGAINST ODDS DOMINION PORCELAIN AND -TILE INDUSTRIES, LID. New Zealand material, sturdy courage, patience, perseverance—success! 1 hat is the brief outline of Dominion Porcelain and Tile Industries, Ltd., since the establishment in 191 G. The s ory o victory against ' reat odds reads like the triumphs of the indomitable early pione<The property of the Temuka. Brick Co. was purchased in 191 G, when the war checked the importation of T °u fiu £ tl ‘ e ® and porcelain insulators. It was known bv the buyers that the land container deposits of clay suitable for hies and insulators—but it was a ’ costly road from tho raw material-to tho present stage of success. 1 It was soon found that the <l ifi'T c n conditions— clay, climate, coal, and other factors— prevented the company from cettin- much help from the data, of countries overseas. It was a case of be-ginning-at the b'eginnTng. It A was im possible to import the machinerj ie quired, but New Zealand engineers proved themselves equal to .. ra, ’ enuinand produced very satisfactory equip meV A lack of skilled labour ck-mand-ed a training of local men, and tins d °After e many tests, many experiments, a eomuest of 'many difficult es Uo comnanv began to leel confident ot gooo for which the P/eparaiions had been thoroughly made—but in A g usL 1918, came another severe rest tl e fir” P destroyed Ur ne £ ariy “the JSBS “Is was able to resume its , I ] ndu^ l ? i ' f d the shssssi is now using this spread 1 to Australia sav U emphatfcally C thaiforking nf bich-grado porcelain insulators. Ihi new machinery is enabling the company to more than ’double the present m (put. Mid it is anticipated that the production will be JS trebled P before long Mhen thm is done the making of insulatois wiu •each a total of 750,000 yearly. ± Tha J pTcgc>nt staff numbers between, thirty and forty, and the w-eeHy P; Jincuts in wages aro abaut alm. company's operations ore also to other industries, which would suffei correspondingly from any check to the company’s progress. Y, measure of reasonable protection lot tn poi'cetaFn and.tile P f.niien of various other industries. rcauest for protection is based on tfio real Manger threatened in- the dumping of foreign goods. Unless a s “ffi'’ l ®" Customs duty is imposed against the toieign manufacturers a new industry—one which promises to >ie Increasingly ben - ficlal to the community—will.be cripple". In this porcelain and tile industry almost the whole cost of manufaeturewages and materials such as clay coal—is distributed in Dominion. Jho facts show that the company has been through a hard battle, anil well. encouragement. The old lines: Lis not in mortals to command success: buti wo’ll do more, Sempronius ;• we 11 deserve it ” apply truly to the Dominion Porcelain and’ Tile Industries. Ltd. Messrs. J. A. Kedpath aud Son. Johnston Street, are the agents.