LOCAL INDUSTRIES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume III, Issue 371, 19 December 1882, Page 2

LOCAL INDUSTRIES.

A large population has collected together in this district, and all arc now agreed that, as we have a good local market for mauufactured articles, we should endeavor to supply it locally. Kaw material, such as wool and hides, and grain, are already produced in plenty, but only the latter is made use of, and the attention of all thoughtful persons has been and is directed to opening up some industry, which shall render the district less dependent upon outside produce : which shall cause the money earned by producers to remain within and circulate throughout the district : which shall provide openings for youths leaving school, and for young men who aspire to positions a little above that of the ordinary farm laborer and bush " whacker." In the search which is now being made for a good and payable opening, there are a few points to be observed, which deserve special attention. Thus, before starting any local industry, full and accurate information should be obtained as to the cost of production, the capital required for plant, the weekly wages' bill, and the length of time which investors would lie out of interest on their money. — Then, it is very necessary to ascertain whether labor of the sort required can be procured at a rate of wages which will leave a fair profit on the goods manufactured. Also, whether a manager of practical experience can be got, and one who can be depended upon to be as careful of shareholders' money as he would be of his own. We have no hesitation in saying, that any man who can come before the Hawera public with a well-planned scheme, worked out in detail, and approved by experienced men, either for a tannery, dairy factory, or wool factory, would receive a fair measure of general, all-round support. Taking country ratepayers only, and assuming that there are about a thousand within a fifteen mile radius of Hawera, if they should subscribe on an average only one pound a share each, a fair capital for a young industry would be available. Large subscriptions could not be expected, if they were, the expectation would be disappointed. Capitalists throughout New Zealand are proverbially shy of companies, and with good reason. In too many cases, the manager or secretary and staff, have reaped the benefit, and the shareholders have lost their money. The best possible guarantee than this shall not happen, is for tho promoters to guarantee a large share of all profits to the paid staff. Cutting wages and salaries down to the lowest reasonable limit, and agreeing with those in the company's employ, that after a low rate of interest, and reasonable sinking fund has been deducted for the shareholders from the gross returns, all further profits shall be divided

equally between the shareholders and the working staff. But no doubt, this also is a very difficult matter to work out. It may be arranged by agreeing to increase the rate of wages all round, in proportion to the profits. Iv respect to a tannery, full information could doubtless be obtained from Mr. W. Hirst, who is now staying at New Plymouth. He owns a large area of land in this district, the leather from his Wellington factory is known throughout New Zealand as being really good, and he has a reputation also among his friends and acquaintances for a spirit of liberality in all matters of public interest. In respect to a dairy factory, what graziers want are reliable statistics from other factories engaged in the same business to the effect that there has been a profit accruing from the business : if that can be shown elsewhere, this district can compete without fear, as for grass-growing and dairying it cannot be beaten. The same would apply to a woollen factory : it is comparatively easy to over-stock any local market, and in clothing more especially the competition is very keen. We have barely touched upon the question of a suitable labor supply, but the necessity for the resumption of immigration is being felt so severely and generally throughout the colony that it seems almost superfluous to advert to it.