NEW ZEALAND FIBRE AND ITS USES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3876, 27 November 1928, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND FIBRE AND ITS USES.

BLEACHING AND DYEING WITHIN REACH. WIDE FIELD OF DEVELOPMENT OPENED UP. The special article published below has been written for the News by a resident of Shannon who has been engaged for some time in research on his own account into the possibilities of the further development of New Zealand hemp fibre. It is understood that Mr. Steven has achieved certain definite and important results which will open a wide field for the future utilisation of one of this country’s distinctive products. THE THREE CIRCLES OF TRADE. (By Alexander Steven). Through the past few years there has been an awakening in regard to the possibilities of developing the manufacture of goods within New Zealand from our native fibre. This has been a reasonable line of research, and surely the time is ripe £or_ practical action. In the development of the manufacturing trade, let us examine the three diswithin itself a wide field to cater tinct circles of trade, each having foi\ DRY SPINNING. First, we have the dry spinning trade, which would have for its base the stripper slip tow, properly cleaned and graded. Within the scope of this circle of trade lies sacking, matting, scrim, carpet foundations, heavy twine and tarpaulins, also other covers which are topdressed by waterproofing, etc., and by a softening treatment woolpacks could be maeje that would overcome the objections to such produced by other fibres, tho wool adhering to the fine fibres and refusing to leave the pack without a considerable time being spent in teasing it out. This is due to tho hard protruding fibres and to. overcome it a softening is necessary. This is a simple process, and it will enable production of cheaper lines of cow and horse covers. It can thus be seen that here alone a wide and profitable field of trade waits to be tapped. Not only have we here a wide range of articles to produce, but there is also a vast territory to cater for, and if New Zealand will ever justify the name of the “Britain of the Southern Seas,” we must .be up and doing to show that we are not a one-eyed cow-and-sheep country. That is our title to-day. W(ET SPINNING. Having established the first circle of trade, wo find another immediately comes into view:—-a vast field, a vineyard ready to harvest—: the wet-spinning circle. The base for this circle is the tow from the fibre, which has been previously bleached. The Government has before it at present a process which successfully bleaches the fibre without in the slightest degree redacting its strength compared with that of the present system, while the spinning qualities of the fibre remain unimpaired. On the combination of these two qualities, I would not dare to mark the limits to which the New Zealand fibre can be put on entering this circle of trade. W'e put the tow through a reducing process, producing an article very much resembling raw cotton. This is known as “weaver’s tow,” and by a totally different process from that of the first circle, we build this tow up into threads of a remarkable degree of fineness ranging from 1 to 50. in this range there lies au immense variety of articles. In the heavier end we have better-class cow and horse- covers, all manner of canvas and sheeting. Before another general election takes place it is quite possible that hardwrought New Zealanders will go to sleep on sheets made from our native fibre. Wjthin this circle we have the union trade. We would wrap our cloth with N.Z. fibre and weft it with N.Z. wool, and with that we enter into the production of workmen’s clothes. What a field to labour in! We have the dress goods trade of Australia for our export in addition to our home market. Again by importing a little raw cotton, we can take hold of the shirting and general mercery trade. We have the foundation for our industrial life. Let us begin to build upon it. It is never too late to stas. MERCERISATION OF TOW. Then we have the third circle of trade, which differs from the other two. Here we begin by the chemical treatment of the reduced tow, equivalent to the mereerisation of cotton. We thus produce a tow with the silky lustre and by the finer spinning process we produce mercerised and artificial silk goods. This circle of trade has leapt into prominence in the course of the past twenty years as the result of chemical knowledge applied to the different fibres of the world. In this department N.Z. fibre lends itself as kindly as any other. I am satisfied from small experiments that there is a grand opportunity in this circle and that New Zealanders need fear no foe if we build our industrial future on N.Z. fibre. In this third department we would cater for all manner of artificial silk goods. Then the by-products or waste matter of the second circle, together with the waste matter of the third, goes to manufacture fine cord. Nothing is destroyed. The coiff trade has its base in the sweepings and refuse of the others and the cord made from the refuse of this third circle is very useful for the carpet manufacturer.

The better-class carpets would be a union of such with wool. BLEACHING AND DYEING. Having now described the three circles of trade as far as the spinning and weaving is concerned, it will be understood that to complete these trades, the dyeing of the materials will be necessary and that is only possible on a bleached foundation. The fibre at present produced by the millers contains too great a percentage of gummy substance, which retards the dyeing, but by the bleaching process now before the Government this is totally removed. Thus it follows that the whole field of industrial possibilities lies open before us. .Shall we go in and conquer? I was not long in this country when I met a brother Scot and I asked him if he thought New Zealand was the “Britain of the Southern Seas.” “Naw Naw, brither, if she is, she’s gie far back,” was the answer, but I cannot think that we will be content to sit far back. However I will be able to answer my own question immediately after the next general election. SHANNON’S- OPPORTUNITY. In the meantime there is a breeze 'of activity blowing in Shannon and I trust it will not cease till it has blown into practical form the first circle of our New Zealand manufacturers. It will be noted'that we have not made any demand on the rope making fibre, which would still be available for export at a very much increased value by the proper bleaching ju'oeess. At juesent the spinning substance left in the fibre shortens its life by the action of rotting and disintegration of the fibre strands. To counteract that it must be bleached. The proper bleaching has been a labour of research for years. Common bleaching agents were found to be too severe on the fibre and instead of making for improvement seemed to hasten destruction, hut now the Government are satisfied that tho bleaching can he done without in any way impairing the value of the fibre. Indeed the fibre will come very close to Manilla and Sisal for colour.

In conclusion, since the Department of Scientific Research has no longer to look for bleaching methods, it will now be able to turn its attention to the stimulating of our manufacturing industries. However, if it chooses to remain in a field already harvested, that cannot hojd up the working-out of the first class of circle of trade, and in that respect this Dominion would do Avell to keep its eye on Shannon.