Spinning Popular On Niue Island

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32166, 9 December 1969, Page 3

Spinning Popular On Niue Island

Wool spinning and weaving, which Were introduced in Niue Island only two years ago, are becoming very popular, says a news release from the Department of Maori and Island Affairs.

In 1969 Mrs C. M. Thompson, wife of the chief medical officer appointed to Niue, took a spinning wheel and some wool with her from New Zealand. She taught members of the Women’s Interest Club at Alofi to manufacture woollen garments. 7 With some members of the Women’s Interest Club, Mrs Thompson toured the other villages on Niue, holding spinning exhibitions. Through these demonstrations many Niuean women became interested in learning to spin. In December, 1966, a trial flock of Perendale or CheviotRomney cross-bred sheep was sent to Niue. Difficulties have been encountered but in the three years since they were introduced much has been learned about the breeding and management of sheep in the tropics. The growth of interest in wool spinning coincided with the Department of Agriculture’s decision to make its wool clip available to the club at a low price. Woolcraft Industry

Since then each wool clip has been eagerly sought by local spinners and the foundations have been laid for a flourishing woolcraft industry. Perendale wool is well suited to spinning. The staple is similar to the fine Romney, and the wool is from 4in to sin long. Although easy to scour and card it is somewhat more difficult to draw, as it is generally less

greasy than Romney wool, but the Niuean women have become adept at handling this wool.

There are now a number of spinning wheels in Niue and they are used by many of the club’s 500 members. Groups of women within the club have become skilled at woo! weaving and making woollen handicrafts. The yarns are dyed with colour extracts from native plants and the results are very pleasing. Some of the women even made sheepskin rugs from the skins of sheep slaughtered for meat Niue Island was discovered by Captain Cook in 1774. The island is 1540 miles north-east of Auckland. The Islanders are New Zealand citizens.