The Daily News. MONDAY, MAY 3. PROPOSED NEW INDUSTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 82, 3 May 1909, Page 2

The Daily News. MONDAY, MAY 3. PROPOSED NEW INDUSTRY.

One of the drawbacks to tliu material advancement of \ow Plymouth is its lack of manufacturing enterprises. With the exception of the bootmaking and woodwork industries, none of the successful manufactures of tile Dominion have liceu established in Mew Plymouth on a comprehensive basis. The woollen mills, Hour mills, foundries and allied industries that have in great measure assisted in building up many of the towns ill New Zealand aix 1 akuiost unknown in Taranaki, which depends almost entirely for its requirements in these directions ou the enterprise of other districts. Certainly every ell'ort is being made to exploit our oil measures, the success of which, coupled with the establishment of 'the iron-sand industry, ami the development of the coal and lime deposits of the lloliau, would immediately transform Xew Plymouth from an tranquil distributing centre to a hustling manufacturing city. Meanwhile, however, there is no reason why, while* prospecting operations On the oil fields are proceeding, advantage should not be taken of our splendid facilities for manufacture in other directions. A characteristic peculiar to all Taranaki | tow-as is the almost universal use ol I wood in building, the use of stone anc I brick being confined almost exclusively I to Government buildings. A few year: | ago, when timber was still plentiful am cheap, it was only natural that wooden buildings should be the vogue, but with the advancing price of timber, and the enormously increased cost of building, it might have been expected, as has been t)ie case in the South Island, that building in brick would become more . popular. We understand, however, that / notwithstanding the high price of tiin- ; ber, there still remains a considerable margin in cost in favor of wood. Possibly the demand for the output Of the brick kilns of the province has not been such as to induce the manufacturers to inetal the labor-saving devices that elsewhere have enabled considerable reductions in the price of bricks to be made. However that 'may be, there is little doubt ill our minds that a splendid opening exists for the gale of bricks, if tlicy can be put 011 the market at a price comparing favorably with the cost of timber. The advantages of brick as a building material are too evident to everyone to r oquire more than passing mention, and its more general use, we are convinced, is only regulated by the cost. It would seem, however, that under the latest methods of manufacture, and the use of material not Hitherto used in this district, a .very considerable reduction can lie made on l|)c existing price of locally manufacture.!} bricks. If the new article' possesses all the qualities claimed for it, mid there seems not the slightest reason to express a doubt, there is an immense field for exploitation." The new brick, composed of sand and lime, and manufactured under a special, but inexpensive process, has been on the market at Invcrcargill for over three years, where the enterprise is now thoroughly established. Excellent bricks, made from New Plymouth black sand and Toko lime, have been on view during the past week, and were the subject of much favorable comment, A representative of the manufacturers in Invereargill has been in Xcw Plymouth for some days in connection with a proposal to establish works in this vicinity, and it is understood several local business men have interested themselves in the matter. It is suggested that the prospects arc such as to warrant the flotation or a local company, and a public meeting of all interested in the proposal is to be held tonight in the Town Ilall, at which the .Mayor will preside. While not at liberty to divulge the figures oil which the promoter bases his calculations, we are convinced he will he able to oiler a business proposition that

j should meet with a general acceptance.