AN HISTORICAL REVIEW

Evening Star, Issue 21720, 15 May 1934, Page 10 (Supplement)

AN HISTORICAL REVIEW

OTAGO’S INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS EFFIOIEHT WORKMANSHIP THE KEYNOTE The history of industrial progress in Otago makes a most interesting study. Starting from zero, a little over threequarters of a century ago, the people of the province have built up industry after industry until to-day there arc few articles that one could wish for that are not made here in greater or less quantities. The historical review of Otago industrial development which follows has been built up through valuable information collected by Mr James Hogg (president of the Dunedin Manufacturers’ Association), who for many yea is has been one of the foremost figures in this sphere of the province’s activity.

For various, reasons, some of which are referred to later on, Otago entered the field of industry at a very early stage in the history of the dominion, in undertakings of such vast importance as woollen raannfaature, the dairy industry, and the freezing industry she was easily first m the field. The first shipment Of frozen meat ever made from New Zealand left Port Chalmers on February 15, 1882, largely as a result of the activities of a committee of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce. Three years later the total export of frozen meat was valued at over ’£350,000. The first steamboat built in Otago was the Betsy Douglas, in June 1862; and in the following month the first casting of iron in Otago took place at the foundry of Messrs Wilson and Selby, in Cumberland street. Exhaustive comparative figures from other centres are difficult to obtain, but Otago was carrying on such enterprises as soap manufacture, papermaking, the manufacture of ranges and of ropes at so early a period that it is unlikely that any other centre could successfully challenge her priority in these. It was natural that in the earliest" days of the settlement the pioneers should begin manufacturing articles from the native materials; and from this has sprung our woodwarc and furniture, twine and cordage, woollen mills, flour and oatmeal, malting and brewing, tanning, bootmaking, and other industries, all of considerable value; Of course, there have been difficulties and obstacles which might well have deterred less persistent men. In woollen goods we are able to hold our own with the world’s mills, and in certain lines, notably travelling rugs, our makers are famous and unrivalled. The industry is a constantly expanding one, and the various mills in the province give employment to a very largo number of hands. From the manufacture of tweeds and worsteds it was natural that clothing factories should follow, and in this branch our establishments are well equipped and produce very fine goods. The tanneries of the district produce excellent samples of high-grade light leathers, as well as the heavier grades. At the Exhibition held at the end of 1922 in Christchurch well-informed people expressed surprise that the leathers there exhibited from Otago were made in New Zealand, and some could scarcely be persuaded that the goods were not imported. Our ignorance of what is being produced locally is perhaps excusable, and the periodic exhibitions which the manufacturers’ associations of the dominion are promoting should do much to educate the public in this direction. Following the tanner wo have many really wellequipped boot factories, and in this line, as in woollens, the reputation of the locally-made article is well established, especially in the heavier classes. The lighter footwear, however, is not neglected, and some really line samples are placed on the market; but. unfortunately, the dealer very frequently conceals the source of origin. 'Travelling and other bags are also produced in very fair quantities, and find an easy sale against foreign makes. The manufacture of harness has languished, as the horse has been replaced by tiio

motor car, but it is still carried on to a considerable extent. PASTORAL INDUSTRIES. The pastrol industries of the province were given an enormous impetus by the improvement of shipping facilities, and especially by the perfecting of the freezing process, which made it possible to export not only dairy produce but meat to the markets of the Old Land. The pioneer shipment of New Zealand frozen meat, already referred to as having left Port Chalmers in February, 1882, was followed by the erection of the New Zealand Refrigerating Company's works at Burnside. Since then targe and efficient freezing works, handling tens of thousands of carcases in the season, are now established at various central points throughout the province. Dairy factories, producing cheese and butter, are also constantly increasing in number, being chiefly supplied from the rich pastoral lands ot North Otago, the Taieri Plains, and Southland. Their output is of great significance to the prosperity of the province. To the late Mr Thomas Brydone, then local manager of the New Zealand and Australian Land Company, is due the credit of starting the first dairy factory in New Zealand, on the company's estate at Edendale, Southland. In the manufacture of cereals, flour of course, is by far the most important, and from the old stone mills of the early days the industry has developed until to-day the most modern appliances are familiar in every mill. Barley of first-class quality is grown in Central Otago and at Hawea Flat. Most of it is malted for the breweries, but a considerable quantity is also employed in the manufacture of extract of malt, a commodity of considerable importance, and one which is produced of first-class quality. The first chemical manure works in the dominion were established at Burnside bv Kempthorne, Prosser, and Company's New Zealand Drug Company. Since then the manufacture of manure has become an adjunct of practically air freezing works. AERATED WATERS.

The manufacture of aerated waters was among'.the earliest established of Otago industries, and it has continually°developsd with the growth of the province. It was materially assisted bv the discovery of mineral springs not far from Duuediu, which have been very extensively developed. 'A very fine plant has been established there, surrounded by beautiful grounds and ■a well-laid-oit park. The waters from this spring have taken notable prizes at exhibitions in many parts of the world, and i demand for them exists all over the dominion. One of the most laborious processes in this business—the washing'of bottles— has been revolutionised by the invention of a very effective machine, which accomplishes the work not only more expeditiously but also much more thoroughly than is possible bj hand. This machine was both invented and manufactured m Dunedin, and has been adopted by users of bott'es in many other parts of this dominion. Many of the opponents of local manufactures are'somewhat lenient • regarding those factories which use native material, hut roundly condom the impor-

tation of materials to make an article instead of importing the article in its finished stae. 1 With our heavy interest payments it should he obvious that everv commodity should be imported in its lowest form of value, and not in its highest. Our splendid confectionery works and our well-established iron foundries should be a sufficient answer, but to some at least it is not. They still argue that it would be better to import finished ranges and chocolates rather than a fraction of the value in the form of pig iron and cocoa beans. The quality of local chocolates and other sweetmeats is excellent, and that this is- recognised by a discriminating public is evident by the magnificent factories and the huge number cooperatives employed in this trade. Confectionery affords yet another instance of Otag'o goods beir.g widely used throughout the dominion. Uhe foundries of Otago are well equipped for their purposes, and thenengineering and forging-work is shipped , all over the dominion. With a very moderate assistance from the Customs Department this industry could be enormously extended, and could provide employment for greatly increased numbers of operatives. Metal bedsteads and wrought ironwork, such as park gates and lift surrounds, of beautiful workmanship and design, are to be found in all parts of New" Zealand. Perambulators and go-

carts, including the wheels and other parts, are also manufactured here. Dairy equipment, although it occupies a number of artisans, could be much increased with a very little encouragement from Customs protection; and if this were accorded, it is doubtful if the cost to our dairies would be increased. Wood-working machinery has latterly been quite satisfactorily placed on the market; also internal combustion engines. In agricultural implements our output it not so great as it was many years ago, before foreign makers took possession of the market. However, it has dawned on us that we pay more for similar implements than neighbouring colonies, which have maintained protection, and perhaps there is hope for a revival hero without detriment to the farmer. 1 MODERN FOUNDRIES. An almost unknown industry in connection with the iron trade, carried on quite successfully in our midst, is the manufacture of malleable castings. This term may not convey a definite idea to the average reader, and it may be explained that the process consists of converting cast-iron goods from the friable state and developing in them the properties of malleability and also of flexibility. In brassfounding our factories are able to produce water-fittings, and, indeed, many other classes of work, which command their trade on account both of their finish and of their quality. With fine pluck one firm in this trade has laid down valuable automatic lathes, which are almost human in their operation, and has also spent many thousands of pounds on a huge press which stamps copper washing boilers from the sheet copper, thus obviating all seams. Our jam and fruit-preserving establishments have long held the market for jams, and nave lately been devoting more energy to the canned fruit trade. This is a highly desirable development, and one which was, perhaps, overdue, when there is such a fruit-growing district as Central Otago at hand to draw from. The development of this branch of industry will certainly be of inestimable advantage to our orchardists, in that it will stabilise fruit prices more than any other factor.

Tinned foodstuffs, condiments, , jelly crystals, vinegar, spices, and similar lines are manufactured in Dunedin in large quantities and shipped all over the dominion. Chemicals and medicinal preparations also employ a large number of operatives. A very highly developed industry is the manufacture of soap. The coarse Varieties have been made for very many years, but besides these we now produce ,the highest grade toilet soaps, and it must be gratifying to the makers that their enterprise is being rewarded by a large demand from the public. VARIOUS COMMODITIES. In brushware our production includes a very comprehensive range, from the finest shaving brushes and paint brushes to the roughest brooms. The machinery employed in this industry is most complicated, and was itself also manufactured in Dunedin. A commodity absolutely necessary to every civilised community is cement. Works for its manufacture were established many years ago, and they supply hundreds of tons every year, of a very high, standard of quality. The same company also burns a large quantity of lime, which has added considerably to the productivity of many of our farm lands. x

With the varieties of clay which are found in various parts of Otago, no doubt we will at some time embark on the pottery trade to a large extent, but at present the most important uses to which our clay is employed is the manufacture of bricks,. roofing tiles, and drain pipes, excellent grades of all of which are placed on the market. Paints and varnishes are generally associated with the idea of foreign manufacture. Here,, however, we have a splendidly equipped factory, producing these goods of such a quality that they do not suffer in any comparison. Many years ago shop and similar •twines were produced quite satisfactorily but for somereason the business was abandoned. This has now been revived on a very considerable scale, and the quality of the product should command continued success.

To refer particularly to all the various articles manufactured in Otago would fill many columns, but one cannot pass on without noting with satisfaction the very fine product of our sugar-of-milk factory at Edcndale. This foodstuff is made from what was a waste product in the manufacture of cheese, and the enterprise of the promoters of this industry is worthy "of all praise. Another kindred industry in Southland which has attracted world-wide interest is the manufacture of condensed milk, a product which was supplied in large quantities to our soldiers during the war, and which has proved able to hold its own with competitors the world over. Matches are a most essential commodity in a modern community. For a number of years the manufacture of wax vestas has been carried on quite successfully at Caversham. The war period demonstrated the advantage of local industries in this instance also.

At a surprisingly early period in the history of the settlement the manufacture of pianos was undertaken in Dunedin, and to-day quite a number of v6ry fine instruments are produced in our midst. Certain of the parts, of course, are imported.

The high altitudes of Central Otago, with its severe winters, foster the growth of an exceptionally fine quality of fur on the rabbits that abound there; and although we export large quantities of these high-grade skins, yet quite a number are retained for manufacture in Dunedin. A wide variety of fur garments of excellent appearance are worked up from them in such a manner as to compare favourably with furs of a much more expensive type. The skin of the introduced opossum, which has also developed here a finer quality of fur than it can produce in Australia, is also put to a similar use.

The pioneer settlers from their earliest days turned their attention to printing, and although the first newspaper produced somewhat bitterly assailed the leading authorities of the day, yet even its enemies were fain to admit that the paper was well printed and produced in really good style. This high standard in the printing trade has been maintained. and developed until at the present day there are a large number of wellcqnipned printing and bookbinding.establishments, some of which ‘liarc strong branches in other centres.

A writing ink of first-class quality has been locally produced for many years, and the firm supplies a very large proportion of the ink of this class used in the dominion. MARINE ENGINEERING. The earliest pioneers built a number of schooners and small craft from the timber which abounded'everywhere on the coastline. While this class of vessel satisfied the demands of the time, it was not long before the call came for

communication, -with ' improved facilities. This was met to a largo extent by importing steamships; but there have been at various periods quite a number of iron and. steel steamers successfully built and launched on Otago Harbour. And today P.ort Chalmers is , noted for its ability to carry out very large marina repair work. Port Chalmers' possesses, indeed, the only equipment' in New Zealand that can handle many job* of this character.