INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2243, 6 May 1881, Page 3

INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION.

A special meeting of the above was held yesterday at 4 p.m. Present—Messrs Allan (in the chair), Cherrill, Howland, Jenkins, Murphy, England, Waller, Hulbert, W. J. Smith, Kirk, and Jameson. The President explained that the reason the special meeting had been called for that day was to hear some remaiks on the subject of sericiculture from Mi* Foderli, who had been deputed by the General Government to come over here and make enquiries as to the existence of mulberry trees, and also whether, if the Government introduced trees, there would be found settlers to take charge of them and plant them, so as to furnish food for the silkworms it was also proposed to introduce. Mr Federli would give them all Che information necessary as to the mulberry tree and its adaptability to the climate of New Zealand. As an industrial association, they would, he felt sure, be only too happy to do anything they could to forward an industry if they saw that it would conduce to the prosperity of the colony. He now begged to introduce Mr Federli.

Mr Federli, who was accompsniei by Mr Pozzi, said that he was very glad to be present that day. As their President had said, he had been commissioned by the Government to visit this province with the object of seeing how far the cultivation of the mulberry tree could be oarried out here with a view of introducing the growth of silkworms and the production of cocoons. Mr Federli then went at some length into the subjeot of the growth of the mulberry tree, and said that he thought the climate of New Zealand was well suited for the cultivation of the treos. If they grew the eggs here and sent the grain home to Europe, it would, if a success, induce a large number of people to oome out to New Zealand to go into the industry of cultivating the silk worms. The mulberry tree, he might say, was considered a very ornamental one, and would pay well for the squatters and farmers to grow, as it were, to supply the growers of silkworms with the leaves. There would be no large expense entailed by the squatter in growing these trees, as the post of their cultivation would not be large. He trusted the association would support the project, as it would attract a very large number of excellent settlers. The Pres : dent asked whether Mr Federli had examined all the mulberry trees in Christchurch.

Mr Federli replied in the affirmative. The trees ho had seen were the black mulberry. They were not the Morns alba,! which were cultivated in Italy. It might be well to grow from seed, but ho should advise that plants should be sent for. Mr Howland asked whether it was more difficult to grow white mulberry trees than black.

Mr Federli replied in the negative. What he wanted to see was that they should do so by degrees ; that the settlers should plant the mulberry as well as the pines in their gardens, so as to acquaint the people with the management of the silk worm. If they did not use the mulberry leaves for [the silk worms, they were excellent for fattening sheep, and the timber was good for making casks. The frost would affect the trees somewhat around Christ church, but in Governor's Bay and elsewhere they would escape this. The President asked how Mr Federli would propose that amateurs should proceed. Mr Federli said that it would be best to start a nursery of say 2000 or 3000. Four trees would furnish ample work for one man. He would be willing to come over here in September next, so as to show the work of growing the cocoons. The white mulberry plants, he would suggest, should be procured from the south of France. They would travel well, and should be lifted in February in France. Ho felt sure that the introduction of sericioulture into this colony would be the means of attracting a very desirable olaßß of colonists. They must remember that the cost of the growing of silk had decreased some 20 per oent., whilst the price of the silk had increased cent, per oent. The growing of the trees around Christohuroh. would n->t, he thought, be successful, but the climate in the Bays would be favorable to them.

Mr M. Murphy said that Mr Cochran had written to him from Scotland with respect to the growth of silk here together with a tea farm in Auckland. The silk industry required a large amount of labor—and oheap labor—and Mr Cochran had an idea which showed how much he knew about it—that the Natives might be used to gather and work the crop. Mr Federli said that the white mulberry tree might be planted the same as any other tree. He should suggest that the grain only should be exported and grown. They could get from 18s to 19s per ounce for the eggs sent to Europe, which he thought would pay well. What he wanted to do was to bring under the notice of the European public that there was a field in New Zealand for silkgrowing, and then there would be a great deal of capital and labour oome to the colony. Mr Murphy asked whether the north-west winds would not act detrimentally to the growth of trees. Mr Federli said he did not think that it would hare any bad effect upon the trees. Mr Hulbert said he had seen splendid mulberry trees in Viotoria. Mr Federli said that the climate of the North Island would allow of the growth of the olive and of cotton. The President said he took it that Mr Federli's recommendation was that they should grow mulberry trees. They were now planting trees which were not so useful or so ornamental as the mulberry, and he thought they should auk the Government to import some trees to be distributed in localities where they would be likely to flourish. He, therefore, thought they should pass a resolution asking the Government to do this, and grow the plants in their various public gardens for distribution. Mr Hulbert thought that the most sensible course would be to ask the Government to import the trees, and distribute them to those who would be willing to raise them. Mr Cherrill was of the same opinion, and would move—" That after hearing Mr Federli's views this association respeotf ully requests the Government to import a few thousand mulberry trees of the proper description, for the purpose of silk growing, and to distribute the same throughout the colony in suitable localities amongst the settlers willing to give them a trial." Mr W. J. Smith seoondod the motion. Mr Murphy asked where it was proposed to import the silkworms from. Mr Federli said from Japan. Mr Murphy asked whether there was not a disease prevailing amongst the silkworms, which threatened to decimate them in the south of France. Mr Federli said the disease was not known in Japan at all. Mr Murphy was of opinion that this matter should be carefully looked into. Mr Federli said that there were small farmers in Europe who had made fortunes by the sale of eggs. If he was asked he would, be willing to come over to Ohristchurch to try experiments with the trees whioh now existed. Mr Murphy thought thot it would be a pity to commence with the black mulberry, as the silk was not eo valuable as that from the white. Mr Federli said that what ho wanted to do was to send Home even the smallest portion of grain, so as to see whether the industry could bo successfully established here. If it were successful there would be a large num. ber of most denrable colonists come out here.

The President read a letter from the Surveyor-General, giving Mr Federli leave of absence to proceed on a tour, to report to the Government what mulberry trees were already in existence, whether the Bottlers would bo willing to plant them if supplied, and generally to enquire what facilities would be afforded for the growth of tho silk worms proposed to be sent for from Japan. The motion was then put and carried, and the proceedings terminated.