NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTORY.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3882, 28 December 1883, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTORY.

In noticing the textile fabric* in the Industrial Exhibition the Christchurch Press has tlio following on the above industry:— "From the fact "that the enterprise of the proprietors of the Now Zealand Clothing , Factory has led them to extend their operations throughout the colony their names arc as familiar as household -words. The factory, which is the pioneer clothing factory of this colony, successfully carrying out the business, was started by Messrs Hallenstein Bros, about ten years" ago. The company .started with but one establishment in Dunedin, and wholesale only. After a time, however, they determined to supply their goods direct to the public. With this view the Christchurch branch was added to the business some eight years ago, and since then twenty-three other branches have been opened in all parts of the colony. Mr B. Hallenstein has just returned from the West Coast, Avhero branches have been opened at Ilokitika, Grcyinouth, and Reefton, so that there is scarcely a portion of the colony from the Bhdf to the North Cape where the company has not .set up its standard. A great point in connection with this extension of the business may bo noted, viz., that the youths who join the firm are promoted to the management of the branches, thus affording , a field for the employment of the colonial youth. The head quarters of thecoinpany are at Dunedin, comprising a factory and a warehouse, in addition to the retail establishment. From this factory and warehouse the supplies of goods are drawn for the various brauchea.

The factory and warehouse, which has recently been erected, is one of the largest in the colonies of its kind. It is four stones high, each flat being 200 ft. long, and 60ft, in width. The number of persons employed in the factory amounts to 400. In addition to these work is given out to about 200 others, thus making a total of GOO workpeople employed at the head factory alone, not taking into account the number of employes in the various branches and the warehouse. These facts will give some idea of the magnitude which this industry has attained in a short time. Having given a brief sketch of the rise and progress of the company reference may he made to the exhibits. ' One of the specialities of the company is juvenile clothing. A number of wax figures are exhibited, enabling the visitors to judge of the cut and. fit of the various articles. There is also exhibited suits made from New Zealand tweeds, Mosgiel predominating. Cricketing trousers are shown made from Mosgiel cricketing flannel. The company, it may be mentioned, arc also the contractors for the supply of railway uniforms throughout th.j colony, which are all made from New Zealand cloths. The Union Steamship Company, which imports all the cloth required for the uniforms of their officers, might with advantage follow the example .set them by the Government, and thus help to encourage local manufactures. The whole exhibit of the company does them very great credit, and it may be mentioned that all the articles exhibited arc taken from stock not made specially for exhibition only. This enables the public to judge of the progress made in the industry from the goods."