NEW INDUSTRY

Hokitika Guardian, 18 July 1929, Page 3

NEW INDUSTRY

}■ . USE OF SUGAR WASTE. QUEENSLAND PRODUCES |j!;; ARTIFICIAL SILK. AUCKLAND, July 16. The manufacture -of/Artificial silk as' a branch product in the sugar xefin- ' ing; industry in Queensland appears likely to -reach large proportions, ac-- _ fording to.Dr : W S ;H- Horton, of Auckland; Svho returned from a business trip to Australia -by the Marhnia. It ' had been found that the-waste from sugar cane after refining, could be chemically treated and that .from the resultant substance artificial -ti rayon silk could be made. Dr Horton said that those in authority in the exten- : sugar illcl'ustry in Queensland : wertb‘Very enthusiastic over the new 1 dist-oVery, l as the manufactuaie of the silk was not very costly. Heavy sug- . ar production woidd enable a correspondingly heavy production of arti- ., fjcial silk from the ..waste. The new , ifyi'ripcli, industry was growing rapidJ)r Horton said that stockings made from the new rayon silk were being given to women to advertise 'the product. The’ material produced from sugar cane had a genuine sheen and ..appeared to wear . well. It was superior to any other form of artificial silk he had ever seen. ‘'The general feeling in Australia is that the Commonwealth is on ibe ..eve cf a serious depression and that New Zealand has already passed through it,’’ Dr Norton said. “Notthe fact that ' Labour 'Governments , have been defeated in i: Ne# Sbiitff Waleii and -Queens-*' land, money has not become easier in either of these States. Of course, the country will he able to weather the storm as it has spoil j immense possibilities.” Dr Horton visited Australia principally on business connected With commercial (Several forestry schemes had gained a footing in Ans-> trale, he said, and excellent attempts were being made to establish large pine forests in Northern Queensland.