THE INDUSTRIES COMMITTEE.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 April 1919, Page 5

THE INDUSTRIES COMMITTEE.

YESTERDAY'S SITTING. The Parliamentary Industries CoBK mittee continued its sitting at the Bo?« ough Council chamber* yesterday. CLAY DEPOSITS. Mr. Sorenson, Smart Road, gave cvk dence on the question of pottery clay deposits found on his property. Sample* of.the clay were exhibited, and also a copy of the Government analysis of the deposits. He also showed photograph* of articles made from the clay. It wm stated also that roofing tiles could be made from the clay. He had neither the knowledge nor the capital to prosecute the discovery, and he desired that the <iovernment should do something to develop its use. His property was 100 acres iu extent. Similar deposits had been found on a neighboring farm. ' SPARK ARRESTERS, *, Mr. F. Henderson, works superintend* ent of the New Plymouth Harbor Board, waited on the committee to*urge tie claims of a special spark arrester f*r attachment to locomotives. He stated the. device had been subjected to the most severe tests by the railway department and reported favorably upon. He pointed out that the invention whin attached to an engine reduced the coal consumption considerably. Since the invention was first brought under notice some improvements had been effected, and he desired a further trial in Lit attempts to get which, he had been frustrated. He asked the committee to assist him in getting the trial he desired. 1 SEEDY WOOL. Mr. Adamson (Waitara), who has been associated with the woollen industry for many years in New Zealand and also in Bradford and {Belgium, dealt with the question of the disposal of seedy wool, which, owing to the inability of small buyers to set up the neesftary plant for cleaning, was bought up by the large companies at their own prices, to the detriment of the grower and the industry in New Zealand- He tfdvoeated that the wool should be scoured before it wan allowed to leave New Zealand; and it would then add lis ty>& per lOOib to the price now received. He bettered that nearly 20 per cent, of the New Zealand clip was Beedy wool. In reply to Mr. Craigie, Mr. Adamson •stated that on pre-war figures a plant to deal with about 40001b of wool per week would cost about £SOOO. Answering Dr. Newman, Mr. Adamson said the process of cleaning was a dunuV cal one by means of sulphuric acid carbocisation.

Mr. Adam son also entered a protest against the many handlings of low. grade wool between the grower and thai wearer, and he hoped something would be done to ensur* having the wool treated locally, in order to make it possible to produce cheap woollen goods for the people in the country where the wool was grown. HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER. In reply to Mr. Oldham, who represented the possibilities of hydro-electric power development from the Walton river, the chairman pointed out that there was nothing to prevent the people of Waitara forming a district and pro* ducing electric power for themselves or for their own profit. AFFORESTATION. Mr. E. Maxwell, Opunake, pointed out the great necessity for larger quantities of timber in advancing the progreu of the country's industries. At present this country was approaching something in the nature of a timber famine, and foreign supplies were diminishing. Ho. advocated that each district show aavo its own plantations o£ timber forests. He spoka of the utility of many varieties of gums for timber for feneing, bridge building, line poles and sleepers. In reference io native trees, he said they wore quite out of court in the matter of the period within which they could be utilised for timber purpose*. He had seen kauris which had, given 12in. of timber in 43 years, but the American redwood had been known to produce 12in. of timber in M% years. For building- purposes theinsignus was a good tree, and he had known it produce building timber in 26 years. The < advantage in having plantations of thew was that the thinning could fas used for the manufacture of fruit cases, and later timber was available for masse crates and butter boxes. It was probably the most rapid grower in the world, and could be grown in the" New Zealand climate quite admirably. To Mr. SSdeys He would not advocate the regeneration of native forests for practical purposes. He did not wish it to be thought he was not in favot of preserving the natdv« forests, (tone areas of them might be improved, but he did not think it would pay to replant them for timber purposes. So far as imported trees being more subject to New Zealand pests, he admitted that might be the case, hut pointed out that many of the best native woods were' 1 also damaged by the borer.

WORKERS' BOUSES.

Mr. P. T. Bellringer, town olerlc of New Plymouth, addressed the committee dn the question of the housing prob. lem in relation to industrial unmfc Ho ddvocated State aid to municipalities and to big companies who -would erect hoiwea for workers. He suggested money should he provided to m«et the capital expenditure at a cheap rate of interest, for a period of say seven yearn. If that was done he felt sure that cities and boroughs and companies wd*dd be induced to undertake comprehensive schemes, and he believed the provision of good houses would do much towards solving industrial disorder.