Brick-Making in N.Z.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 April 1922, Page 1

Brick- Making in N.Z.

- <n*» UP-TO-DATE MACHINERY. WANTED. WELLINGTON, April 4: Recently the c ity engineer pointed out that bricks in Wellington cost £2 a thousand more than in Melbourne. Air J. R. Todd, who was the first to make fire bricks in Southland, and has had very considerable experience in brickmaking, has been disclosing to a “Dominion” reporter the reason for the high cost of manufacture in New Zealand. In Victoria, he says, the manufacturers have very much more modern machinery in use, and the latest style of continuous kiln is utilised to minimise the cost of production and delay in drying the bricks in the open air, the heat in the interior of the kjiln, after it bakes a “batch” of bricks in one chamber being carried to the next to dry the freshly-made bricks before they are subjected to the intense temperature necessary for baking. Then there is a machine' which thoroughly kneads a brick and turns out a better pressed and more finished article at twice the speed of any used out here. The expense of installing this nuichinery, probably £16,000, militates against its importation, but the pressure of high wages and other economic costs must surely force hrickmakers to put oh their considering caps. Now that proof of the advantage of obtaining this improved plant is available, and as such great success has resulted, wherever it has been tried, there should not be a great deal of difficulty in introducing the necessary machinery. Where raw material is available and the natural facilities for shipping etc. ar e good there should be a profit in bricks at £3 a thousand, especially if the fuel required is economically dealt with at the works.