OUR WOOLLEN INDUSTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 217, 19 October 1909, Page 1

OUR WOOLLEN INDUSTRY.

A VIKITUU'N nrPKKSSIOXS. "AN UP-TO-OATK" UIXCIyISV. Three of tin- visiting niwm dclcg.it;es »hi) arc woollen iiiamiliiclurcrs iroi:i J-lnnip paid a vist to the lliwl.ni \\'i)i.|i"ii ■Mills ami were greatly impressed wi-.ii ever.viliiiijr tlit'.v saw." .Mr. ,l. I'eale (Leeds), speiikiiifr to ii iiu'inhi'r of tin Dunedin Star stall', sniil tiicv visited Dmmills because t'hey were interested m the trade, iiml were naturally anxious to see what woollen mills were like i.'l this eoitntrv.

•'The |iroprietor of the Itoslyn Mills (Mr. (Ilendinning) was .kind enough to meet us on tlm premises','' he said, "and we saw tlie process of manufacture from the very coimiit'iici'iiieiit to the liuislril article—in fact, in some eases to the very point where the manufactured article is made into garments. Our opinion oi the mill is that it is a very up-to-du:,e concern. The. machinery has licen made by the liest makers in England, and all of it is quite modern. In fact, we were surprised to iiml the mill in such an excellent state and so thoroughly we.'l equipped. In a woollen mill, the same as in any other establishment, a great deal depends upon the manager's knowledge of human nature as well as his knowledge of machinery, and his acquaintance with materials in successfully conducting such a large concern. So far as one could gather, the Roslyn Mills are working under effective management. Those at the head, I should say, are well acquainted both with the machinery and the manipulation of wool in all iti ■processes right up to th c point of it becoming clothing. " We saw the employees at work, and were very much impressed with the gi.'ls in particular. They were very dainty and well dressed. I have never seen n daintier or a more handsome lot of women in any mill in all my life. They spoke like persons wlm had been well educated, and you could easily have mistaken them for ladies' in a good position in society. This feature impressed all of us. We inquired in regard to the wages and found that the remuneration was good. They all had a particularly bright appearance, and were attentive and diligent in their work. There seemed to be no slackness on their part,, ■mil I hat was another feature that pleased us.

"The mills arc pleasantly situate'., the spot, in my opinion, being an idea! one fnv a woollen factory. We saw worsted*' of the highest class, and the flannels and other cloths used for clothing purposes are all good, sound, useful anil servieealile. Good taste Ims been shown as regards shade and combination of colorings, and so far as w. wearing quality of the goods is concerned, you .could not conceive of anything, to Surpass them. The worsted cloths arc exceptionally fine, and are similar to what are made in the best houses <n England. In fact; they reach a state • f perfection we never expected to find v> Xew Zealand. Of course, tliey have tin' raw material at their own doors, and they have it available at any tim->. They make good, sound clothes, and it is only natural to expect tliat they arc composed of wool grown here. And New Zealand produces some of the best wool in the world. "All of us are users, more or less, ol wool grown here. We purchase it at the London s'ales. and we all believe that at London the wool-producers of tlii* eniintrv will find their best market, because there are buyers from all parts of the. world attending the London sales, where the highest market value is to be found. I have been told of a ca-c* where wool which could only fetch ni'i offer of Hl'/jd here, and for which • ic j owner had put on a reserve price of Is. on being sent'to London realised | I.TJ/.d. That might be accounted for owing to a change of market as regards wool values, but at the «:iine time '': is -iilficient to indi-ate tlr't the b" ' j market in the world for wool growers isj London." I