FEDERAL CLOTHING FACTORY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1300, 1 December 1911, Page 2

FEDERAL CLOTHING FACTORY.

4 . ~ OPERATIONS TO-BEGIN ON JANO. AEY 2. i Information is to hand from Mo!bouni« showing that tho new Federal Clothing Factory will bo opened on January 2, 1912. "Throe hundred girls will be required, but if tho position in (he southern capital with regard to labour is anything like it is in Sydney, the Federal authorities will have considerable difficulty in securing that number. Tho Minister for Defence, however, announces that already a great number of clothing workers have applied to be engaged. Tho wages will be" in accordance with tho Wages Board rates. The building in which the factory is to l>o quartered is onlv a temporary one, although tho iron shell has been so strongly constructed and heavily lined, Hint for practical pur--Ik>sos it will sor've for the factory for many years. The reason for not erecting a substantial structure lies in tho fact that the ultimate intention is to transfer tlio works to Federal territory. But whether that will ever come about or not is doubtful. When tho time comes for tho move Melbourne may bo relied upon to offer a. strenuous resistance. One featnro of tho factory is that it is built aud equipped with Australian material, tho exception being the 180 sewing machines, which aro' British made. Even Hie electric motors are Victorian in make, and the long tables and benches arc of Queensland hoop pine or Tasinnnian black wood. Everything has been well planned, the elott enters and is stored at the western end of the building. From the store room it passes to the cutting room, where two cutters are engaged with electric machines cutting out. Three sue!-, machines are provided, and aro callable of troin? through 30 layers of cloth at a time. By these'machines time is saved, and material also, for 'thi'V cut so accurately that almost every inch of cloth in tho roll can be used for some part or other of tho garment. Tho pieces then go through to tho sewing room, to be made into shirts or trousers, and then to the pressing rooms where irons, heated by internal coal gas jets, finish the work. In tho wines are situated tho brushing, folding, and store rooms for tho finished articles. ~, , , ~ , Fire risks aro slight, for tho only (lames will be those under the heating boiler, and those hidden in the irons. All power is electric, and "cut rffs' aro supplied plentifully. The motors will also drive the electric fans. The buildJill's have 'ly-en erected by day labour, and cost XCOOO. It is said that at times 80 men have been employed. During the first six months it is estimated that: (he factorv will have to turn out about 90.000 . garments, including shirts, breeches, and overcoats.—"Sydney Horning Herald." •