PROPOSED WOOLLEN MILLS

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10715, 19 October 1912, Page 5

PROPOSED WOOLLEN MILLS

MEETING IN MASTERTON. j there was a good attendance of business men. of Masterton present in " ( Murray's Hall last evening, when 'Mr •J. \\. -Uclv.van, of Petone, spoke on. < the question of establishing a woollen j fuctory in Masterton. ] Mr C. E. Uannicll occupied the , chair, and .said that tho meeting was caJlcci at the instigation of the Masterton Chamber of Commerce. He hoped that some good would result from the address which Mr McEwan was about to give, on a question of such importance as the establishing of woollen mills in the towui of Masterton. Mr McEwan said that the idea of establishing a woollen factory in Masterton was not a new one, and a number of years ago the project was before the business men of the town. Some time ago he had written to Mr A. H. Vile on the matter, who as a newspaper man would be in: a position to bring the matter before the public. He was present that evening to give those present tho benefit of his experience and knowledge on the matter. He would highly recommend tho forming of a company in Masterton to establish a woollen factory. He would suggest that, a factory on a small scale would at first be erected,- and goods of . evervda.v use be manufactured; and as the directors became more conversant. with the business, extensions, could be made. The question had been asked as to whether there were not already sufficient mills kit the Dominion. He could say that all the mills in tho country were doingwell. Last year the Petone Woollen Company had made a profit of £26,000, and this year they were making extensive additions, which indicated an increase of business. Masterton would be more suitable than Petone, as the latter place being so close to Wellington suffered somewhat. A woollen factory would be of material benefit to the town generally, as the industry would entail a considerable increase in population. FACTS AND FIGURES. Mr McEwan then proceeded to explain tlie workings of a woollen factory, a«i'd illustrated his information by samples of the different wool in the various stages of manufacture. The requirements for a mill which would be deemed suitable for Masterton were tlieh given, the area of land necessary, buildings, plant kna jtata# capital l'&jtfirfed being a£ follows."™ CAPITAL COST. Land, 3 acres at £.IOO per acre, t<v tal £9OO, building, brick or ferro-cori-crete, 160 ft bv 60ft, at 12s 6d per square foot. £6OOO, wool store 50ft lojr 40ft at 7s 6d per foot £600; engine room and boiler house £400", cottage for manager £SOO, two sets of carding machines £I6OO, two pairs of mules (150 spindles) £4OO, 30 looms at £l5O each, £3400, scouring and drying £450. willy house £175, . milling' and scouring £650, finishing £475, dye house and machinery £3OO, benches, ' tables, bins, etc. £250,, warp mill, twist frame, reels, etx;., £BOO, 150 H.P. engine aiid boiler £SOO, electric lighting £SOO. preliminary expenses £looo. Totnl £18,400. PRODUCTION. A week's production from twentyfour looms on flannel, output 9000 yards at" 10:Ul nor yard,. £384 7s 6d, cof A of production £3lO 10s; weekly profits £73 17s Gel.'airanal profits, £3B*l 10s. o- m-per centum on a cnTv'taJ «f £20,000!' Mr McEn-an nroceeded to. 20 into nnnv details vein tin? to production, sales, mnrkots, oto.' dentin* in-a most an nor with the entrf m, est ion. He was sure that if the proposal was s°rioi'«!y taken tip bv the men of Masterton. t.hev would have nn cause to reu-ret jit. as the project would, certainly nrove a sound _ , \fter a numb'T of questions were . satisfactorily answered the chairman nroposed a'heart:- vote of thanks to Mr McF-wan for his valuable address, w ] S aid that he hoped -the matter would be placed on a business footing before long.