HUGE BUSINESS CREATED

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 590, 16 February 1929, Page 7

HUGE BUSINESS CREATED

FROM N.Z. GROWN WOOL Between 60 and 70 years ago a small retail business was commenced in Dunedin by two men who saw the enormous possibilities of using locally grown wool tor the manufacture of woollen goods. The two men were the late Mr. John Ross (afterwards Sir John) and the late Mr. Robert Glendining, and their small business has to - dav grown into the company of Ross and Glendining, Ltd., employing throughout New Zealand about 1.600 hands. Mr. Glendining was looked on by the wool buyers as one of Ihe keenest judges of the quality of wool. Mr. Glendining attended the sales himself practically’’ up to the date of his death, and it was a well-kiown saying on the benches that when Ross and Glendining were after high-grade wools it was useless for anyone else to buy. From the commencement of tie business he insisted on only the b€'. c t of wools going into the Roslyn manufactures. After the Armistice the board ©t directors of the company had many serious discussions as to the best policy’ to pursue for the future, and it was then decided that there was more promise for the firms who would manufacture New Zealand primary products into finished articles. Ross and Glendining. Ltd., therefore, decided to specialise in its own manufactures rather than in imported goods. The position to-day is thn , while the company must carry’ a certain amount of imported goods in its warehouses, in all cases where it is possible for the colonial-made article to compete, colonial stocks are carried. The mill in the Roslyn Valley. Dunedin, is, of course, the main manufacturing plant of the company, but from the mill the various materials go to factories in Dunedin, Wellington and Auckland for manufacture into ladies’ and men’s costumes, coats and suits, and all the other articles made and sold by’ the company.