THE PARLIAMENTARY VISIT.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2572, 5 July 1882, Page 3

THE PARLIAMENTARY VISIT.

KAIAPOI WOOLLEN WORKS. The members of Parliament and a number of other gentleman visited Kaiapoi by a special train leaving Christchurch at 12,30, in order to accept the invitation of the Woollen Company to inspect the works on the Cam side. About 200 availed themselves of the trip, and the members present were Sir G. M. O’Korke, Speaker of the Lower House; Hon. Pollen, M.L.0.; Messrs Montgomery, Hobbs, Sutton, Petrie, Dobson, Watt, Hursthouse, O’Oallaghan, J. Stevens, White, and Major Harris, M.H.E’a,; also, Messrs G. Gould, W, Pratt, F. Hobbs, A. Ayers, J. Henderson, H, A. Watt, J, W. Ullen, B. B. N. Twopeny, J. Hogan, A, T. Edwards, J, Scott, A. Hirone, M. Sandstein, J. G. Buddenklau, Mayor of Christchurch; Q. L. Beath, J. A. Bird, J, P, Jameson, &0,, &o. The party were met at the railway by Messrs Isaac Wilson, M.H.8.; Parnham, Sunsom, and Blackwell, directors of the company; the Mayor and Councillors, and several of the residents of the town. A move was first made to the Oddfellows’ Hall, in which a lunch was provided by Host Burnip, of Middleton’s Hotel, in good style. The chair was occupied by Mr Isaac Wilson, chairman of directors of the compasy, supported on the right by Sir Maurice O’Eorke, and on the left by Mr Montgomery ; the vice-chair was filled by Mr Caleb Smith, Mayor. After lunch The Chairman gave the toast of “ The Queen,” the vice-chairman that of “ The Governor.” The latter referred to Sir Arthur Gordon’s able adminiotration, as well as to the fact that he had spent a long visit in Canterbury, and gone away expressing himself pleased with the country. Mr J. P. Jameson, in proposing the toast of “The Legislature,” said he would follow the good example set of making his remarks as brief as possible. It gave him pleasure to propose the gtoast as well as satisfaction to see the members of the General Assembly present and extending their patronage to the industries of the country. [Cheers.] It was difficult to estimate the value of the industry they were about to witness, or to form a true estimate of its magnitude and importance, and it appeared to be their duty as colonists to foster every effort put forth in the promotion of these industries. He asked the company to drink to the toast of “ The Legislature,” coupled with the name of Sir Maurice O'Borko. The toast was drunk with musical honors.

Sir Maurice O’Borke, in reply, had to thank those who had issued the invitations to this entertainment, and he was grateful on behalf of the visitors for the kindly remarks which had been made. This was the fourth day since the members had landed, and they had been met with unbroken kindness and friendship wherever they had gone. He was, perhaps, glad he had not yet seen the works, of which they had hoard so much, as it would possibly be beyond his power to say all that he ought to say respecting them ; but they had already aeon the productions of the woollen company at the factory in Christchurch, and the softness ia the texture of the fabric web exceedingly pleasing. So far as they could [adgo the articles of manufacture were of the best class. [Cheers.] They wished—speaking for the members —that the enterprise might be as remunerative to the originators as they could desire. [Hoar, hear.] To some of them, whose districts had not reached the manufacturing stage, the advantage of this visit would bo very great, and the outcome might be very satisfactory to the rest of the colony. Ho referred to the progress of the colony, and alluded to the increase in population since he first visited Christchurch, a quarter of a century ago, when the then population of tho colony did not exceed the present population oi Christchurch alone. This colony had been endowed by Providence with a good climate end rich soil, and their flocks and hards had increased and improved so, that they could now venture to supply the London market with meat. [Cheers ] Ho trusted also that before long the looms of Kaiapoi would bo also supplying clothing for the English market, [Loud cheers.] Ho again thanked them, and said the gentlemen present would go away with very pleasing reminicoencea of the visit to Kaiapoi. [Cheers.] Mr W. Montgomery begged those present to drink a bumper to the toast of “The Kaiapoi Woollen Manufacturing Company.” [Loud cheers.] This company, which was established four years ago, ha stated now gave employment to 473 hands in its mill and warehouses. [Cheers.] Another fact gratifying to them all was that all the wool, coal, and other materials required at tho manufactory ware obtained in tho country. Such a concern, it would bo seen, was a direct benefit to the community generally. They wanted more of them in fact, and as producers ought to cultivate the spirit of selfreliance in every department. [Queers.] A deal of credit was duo to the shareholders and tho directors of the company, but to the energy, prudence, and sagacity of their chairman was due the financial and complete success of the undertaking—[loud cheers] — who brought with him a character for perseveranco, uprightness, and integrity ; and he asked them to couple the name of Mr Isaao Wilson with tho toast. Tho toast was drunk with honors and three times three.

Mr Isaac Wilson, on rising to respond, thanked the representatives for their presence there that day, and said he did not claim for himself and the directors the success of the company. That was due only to the staff of employes. [Cheers], lie attributed their success rather to good luck than exceptional ability, so far as the management was concerned. He questioned whether there was anywhere a better or more complete woollen mill in the world than that at Kaiapoi. [Cheers.] The existing company was floated four years ago with a capital of £15,000, of which £9OOO was paid up. This the directors found was barely on&ugn, and, as they determined to make the affair a success, one of the directors paid a visit to the mills in Australia, America, and Great Britain. They imported the best and latest improved machinery, so that the mill was, he quite believed, better than the majority of

the factories in England in respect to the extent and variety of the beet machinery in operation. [Cheers.] Showing the progress of the work*} in the employment of labor, in July, 1878, there were 27 hands at work; 1879, 51; 1880, 93; 1881,203; and at the present time, 473, and daily increasing. [Cheers.] The nominal capital was £IOO,OOO, of which £75,000 was paid up. In the course of the year, the company expended in wool £36,000, used 2800 tons Native coal, 30 tons N:Z. oil, and 40 tons locally made soap. The machinery which they could obtain in the colony was so purchased. The large engine which drove the whole of the machinery was made in Christchurch. He made the encouragement of local industries a hobby, and when the proposal to get this was mooted, he was met with much opposition. The company procured specifications from England, and also a tender for a similar engine, which would have cost them £25 more in London than this present engine cost them at the factory, [Cheers.] So much opposition was shown to getting this engine, that some of the shareholders of the company were, in fact, surprised that the wheels would go round at all. [Laughter.] Then the boilers were also of local make, and equal to anything of the kind which they could import. So also was most of the shafting, and all the machinery which could be obtained in the colony was made within it. A sum of at least £20,000 had been spent by the company in buildings in Raiapoi and Christchurch. Going on to speak on the question of free trade v protection, he said that once before in that hall he had been laughed at for saying he was a free trader, bub had reason to change his opinions to those in favor of protection. If there was a free trader present, he might Ml him that ho doubted if be could, as a c‘«gP,tor f such a company for three months, nold free trade opinions, but must become a protectionist, [Cheers, and oh, oh!] Taking the number of hands employed at 500 persons, he pointed out these were the bread winners for at least 2000 souls ; and possibly Mr Montgomery might tell them where the benefit of such an industry really came to its end, therefore ho could not help feoling convinced that to prevent these persons earning their livelihood would bo to seriously interfere with the progress and development of the industries of the country. [Cheers.] They wore, he might say in conclusion, still going on with improvements, and keeping up with the adoption of the newest machines. He thanked them all for the hearty reception given to the toast and the way in which the company present had received his remarks. . [Cheers],

Mr R. Hobbs, Bay of Islands, proposed the toast of “ The Local Industries of New Zealand,” referring to the question as one of great breadth and importance. No more difficult task engaged the attention of the Legislature than that of how to provide for the young and rising generation. His mind on the question of the toast was stored with information on the undeveloped resources of the colony, but it would be out of place for him to delay the proceedings with any comprehensive remarks thereon. While farming was a profite.ble employment, the scope for it was necessarily limited, and they had to cast about in other directions for employment to those rising up around them, in ways whioh would have to be found out by skilled hands and men of calm judgment, such as their worthy chairman. Ha admired the progress of the country as shown in Christchurch. While in the North they had talked about progress in the direction alluded to here they had done more, they had begun to accomplish it. [Cheers.] In the North there were industries to be opened whioh could not be found here, and hers there were useful manufactures whioh could not bo promoted there ; and very soon he trusted that they would bo able to meet the demands of the colony with local products. He would leave the rest in the fiands of Mr Hursthouse, who would reply. [Cheers. 1 The toast was well received.

Mr B. Hursthouse (Motueka) said be was at a loss to know why he had been selected to respond, yet he never lost an opportunity of making himself publicly known when the occasion offered. [Laughter.] While a certain section of the Press was carping about the waste of a week by the members, he could not help thinking that in a visit of this kind the members were batter employed than in wasting their time over measures which might be of very little use, and still less ornament, to the country. [Laughter and cheers] Bogarding the remarks of the chairman, the question of free trade v protection was too large an one for him to go into there. The colony had a large future to look to, and this matter would have to be better thought out than simply over the lunch table. He hoped as a eon of Now Zealand, having been born in the colony, that in time to come ninetentbs of their products would find a way to foreign markets. That day he had been struck while in the clothing factory with a

statement made by one of the men who was snipping off pieces of ends of tweed. In reply to his query as to what became of them, and if they wore returned to the factory for shoddy, he learnt that they were sent to England, where possibly they were introduced into broadcloth, to bo sent hero again. [Laughter.] He hoped the time would soon come when every man would advertise local manufactures in his clothing, his boots, and the stockings under his boots. M. Joubert had apologised very nicely at the Exhibition dinner the other day for not appearing in a suit of broadcloth, by saying that he preferred to wear a bit of Kaiapoi tweed. [Cheers.] It was time they dispelled the idea that because a thing came from England it was better than they could raise themselves; for with some people even a cabbage grown in the old country was to their idea better than a locally produced one. [Laughter.] He spoke as feelingly for the colony an those who were reared in England referred to the products which they were familiar with there. He next alluded to the establishment of a jam factory and the making of cement began at Nelson, Bfat to make these concerns go ahead push was required. He admired the Kaiapoi Company for this. Their canvaseer for factory shares, for instance, found him ditching on his fifty acre farm, and induced him to take shares, and he had a dividend warrant on same, which ho meant to cash. [Cheers.J The colony, he pointed out, owed a debt of gratitude to the promoters of the Exhibition, which had brought together the various products and proofs of the country’s industries. Ho thanked them cordially for the way the toast had been received, and the cordial reception extended to the strangers,

Mr G. Boetham, Wairarapa North, said he had much pleasure in reading a telegram just to hand from the Hod. Mr Eolleston —“Please express general recret of Ministers at not being able to visit Kaiapoi,” which had been tent to him from his position with the Government as the whip. He was aware that the Hon. Mr Rolleston would have wished to be present at this gathering in his own district. He fully understood since his visit to the South Island why the members wore loth to give up their finances, but he trusted the gratification would bo some day greater to those members and the people to become a great and united country, | Cheers ] He asked them to drink to the toast of “ Absent Friends," expressing regret that all tbo members were not present, but as the love of homo was a moving power in all Britons that was the real reason why many were absent. The toast was drunk with honors.

Mr A, T. Edwards, English exhibitor, who alluded to the que'-tion of free trade and protection from an importer’s point of view, amid cheers and laughter, and praised the success of the Exhibition and progress of colonial industries, iu furniture, implements, woollens and leather, wont on to propose the toast of “A free and independent Press," which toast was drank with honors.

Mr J. Lawthian Wilson briefly replied. Mr Montgomery proposed, “ The employes of the Woollen Company,’’ to which toast Mr Shanks, the Christchurch manager, replied in a neat speech,[saying all tho employes took a deep interest in the progress and prosperity of the concern. The company then proceeded to inspect the woollen mills, which wore fully described in this journal during April last, and copies of which description and a woodcut of the wor'- s were distributed to those present. The whole of the South Island members expressed their surprise at tho extent of the factory, while all present took tho keenest interest in the explanation which was given of various pieces of machinery and operations in the course of manufacture. The visitors took their departure after inspecting the town for Christchurch by the special train, leaving at 4,30.