Footballs for New Zealanders

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 974, 17 May 1930, Page 6

Footballs for New Zealanders

This is the fifteenth of a series of informative articles that are being :published in THE SUN weekly throughout IDSO, describing many of New Zealand’s most important industries.

BUSY FACTORY MAKES LEATHER FOOTBALLS AND TRAVELLING BAGS NEW ZEALAND may be the liome of the All Blacks and the birthplace of great international football players of all codes, but until last year practically every match played in this country was played with imported footballs! What an astonishing commentary on our patriotism!

Of course, one reason why imported footballs were used more was the scarcity of the New Zealand-made ball, but that is now a "thing of the past, because of the activities of Mr. W. B. Darlow, specialist in travelling goods and leather footballs. The firm of W. B. Darlow, like many other establishments in New Zealand, had a very inauspicious beginning. In 1919 Mr. Darlow commenced the business of the manufacture of travelling requisites in Rutland Street. Taking a floor which looked absurdly large for a one-man show. Mr. Darlow smiles when he looks

back and thinks of the many predictions of early failure, for he was starting at a time when competition was becoming very keen, and he had .to get in against old-established businesses. Perhaps his critics did not take into account the spirit of the man. Born in the Hokianga district Mr. Darlow is the son of one of the early pioneers, and his life and success is a romance that only the spirit of the pioneers could provide. He first saw the light in a nikau whare, of which the windows were made of calico, and an umbrella was necessary to keep the rain off the bed. Mr. Darlow has great faith in the capabilities of the New Zealanders, he believes that what foreigners can do New' Zealanders can do equally well, and he never misses an opportunity of helping to solve the problem of unemployment by asking New 1 Zealanders to support themselves. The firm of W. B. Darlow for some

years confined itself solely to the manufacture of leather travelling requisites. After manufacturing for five years in Rutland Street the firm became cramped for want of room, and shifted to much larger premises in Alexandra Street, now renamed Airedale Street. ONLY N.Z. LEATHER USED All the leather used by this firm is made locally and this industry alone means a lot to the farmers and tanners and their employees throughout New Zealand. Mr. Darlow informs us that the local leather is the finest

made leather in the world today, and New Zealand bags and suit cases are greatly admired, and many purchased by Americans and other visitors to Auckland. Last year Mr. Darlow* went on a business trip to Australia, and while there was greatly surprised to hear of the number of footballs exported from that country into New Zealand. Over £50,000 worth of footba’. '.s were sent to New Zealand annually from Australia! Through the courtesy of a friendly firm of manufacturers in Melbourne, Mr. Darlow was supplied w*ith the necessary labour machinery anc patterns for the manufacture of all classes of footballs, and now manufactures many thousands annually. MAKING FOOTBALLS A visit through this department it I of interest: First we see an exper* cutting the leather roughly intc

shapes, from these we see the leather going into a machine that takes all ihe stretch out of it. It is then cut into the exact shape, and the best of the leather naturally goes into the best quality ball, which is hand sewn ; throughout, and the smaller or i cheaper class of balls are machined 1 on a hot wax machine, which this firm maintains is equally as strong as hand sewing. This business is the largest of its ' kind in New Zealand. Over 30 employees are working in this factory*. The balls are named “Mascot” and “Kickwell.”

Many sports goods houses readily see the advantages of buying their footballs locally, first they do not have to guess their requirements nine months ahead, they do not have to pay for them before the boat reaches port. They can purchase them locally, and sell them over the counter, and pay for them the 20th the following month. In going over the travelling bag manufacturing, we see the same division of labour. No man makes an article throughout. The leather is cut up by experts, from there it goes to (wo men who glue stiffeners to the leather, from there the work goes to others who rivet the locks and studs on. The ends are then sewn on to the body w r ith a hot wax machine, w*hich makes a much stronger stitch than is possible to procure by hand. From there it goes to the various hands, who in turn do their allotted

task, the article being finished is then examined for any fault and finally is shelved in the warehouse along with many others, ready to be sent at a minute’s notice to any part of New Zealand. Some years back the firm instituted a saving scheme for its employees, each employee has 2s per week deducted from his wages and the firm in turn suppliments it by 2s per week. ; This 4s is controlled by a commiueo ; of employees who invest the money, I and the whole amount is given to the I employee when he leaves the firm, i For instance a boy serving hi* apprenticeship of five years with th>* firm, and in the event of his being discharged or leaving" on his own j accord, he would not leave empty handed, but would receive the sum ! of £SO. This firm has progressed by giving better value and service to it* respected customers and hopes to I continue by the same means.