The Spirit of “N.Z. Made”

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 946, 12 April 1930, Page 6

The Spirit of “N.Z. Made”

This is the tenth of a series of informative articles that are being published in THE SUN weekly throughout 1930, describing many of Ncio Zealand's most important industries.

Endeavours and Success of the Bruce Woollen Manufacturing Co. ||NE sees, nowadays, so many of New Zealand’s smaller v agricultural towns receding gradually from the world of affairs and commerce—inevitable with the progress of the country and the corresponding centralisation of manufacturing industries. Refreshing then—novel, one might almost say—is it to find, in the heart of the agricultural district of South Otago at least one town which the inexorable trend of commerce to the larger cities has not desolated, and which can yet point to a flourishing and important industry operating within its bounds as being-the mainstay of the district and the livelihood of its workers.

New Zealand can boast 12 woollen be the struggles of the Bruce Mills to mills, and the town of Milton lays establish themselves in a market. Yet claim to the oldest of them all in the despite the initial handicaps of a new Bruce Wollen Company, whose 34 industry coupled with heavy overhead years of productive effort have been charges and the struggle to break into inseparably bound up with the a new field of endeavour, those who developmental progress of the town founded the mill and those who have and which have earned for the mill a carried its activities up to the present lasting fame, both for the excellence stage have been loyal in their adher-

of its productions, and for its practical contribution to the true spirit of “New Zealand Made.” Of course, it is at once obvious that unless the quality and general standard of the goods manufactured appealed to the buying public of the Dominion there could be no such stabilised industry such as obtains there today. Better imagined than described may

ence to the letter of the axiom buy “New Zealand Made.” Not from them should money flow into the coffers of competitive countries, but by strict adherence to their policy of using New Zealand materials and employing only New Zealand labour, have they carried out truly a “New Zealand Made” programme. The force of this is at once apparent when it is explained that the Bruce

Mills employ about three hundred persons in the manufacture of woollen garments of all descriptions. Add to that number the wives, families and dependents of these workally a splendid example is set to every industrialist throughout the country as to the method whereby New Zealand can be made self-con-tained and self-supporting—that is by following rigidly a policy of using wherever possible only New Zealand ers together with those trades people necessary to the ministration of their wants, and it will be at once obvious why Milton with the advent of the Bruce Mills has not sunk into the soporific oblivion so common in many parts of New Zealand. And incidentlabour and materials. To the layman, doubtless the conception of a woollen mill as being a manufactury of ladies* fashion apparel would at first appear parodoxical. Yet with the advent of modern machinery, and coinciding with the expansion of the Bruce market (attributable directly to the persistent manufacture of quality goods) it has been found possible latterly to embrace what might be termed the “fashion” side of woollen manufacturin.- and to produce garments which, in New Zealand, have the approval of the women folk in the all important essentials of appearance and durability. Bruce garments are, it is no exaggeration to say, now .voeked by every

I retailer throughout the country who j studies popular demand—proof that ; New Zealand and its workers can produce that class of goods which the buying public demands—but more imi Portant still it demonstrates the real practicability of that which should be | °ur theme “Buy New Zealand Made to create a contented people and to present a unified front to foreign . competition.”