NEW AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY.

Northern Advocate, 20 December 1910, Page 3

NEW AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY.

A USEFUL FIBRE

Mr R. T. Baker exhibited at the Royal Society, Sydney, a series of specimens of plants, photographs, and cloths, all connected with a new jindustry now being developed In Australia. Some few years ago a fibre was discovered washed ashore after a gale on certain portions of |the foreshores of Spencer Gulf, South Australia, and was submitted to the Technological Museum for ex-

amination. It was found by both macro and microscopical investigation that the fibres belonged to a plant known botanically as Posidonia Australis, a seaside acquatic plant common all round our coasts. The fibre was exhibited before local scien fftic societies and a report obtained from London concerning its prospective commercial possibilities. The matter was followed up by those interested, with a result that new industry to Australia is now assured as shown by the following figures, and some idea of the area to be worked can be obtained when it is stated that an Australian company own 10y 2 square miles, for which £60,000 was paid. Tests over the block gave an average depth of fibrous deposit of 7 to 9 feet, and the

quality of clean fibre per cubic feet. This works out at 130,000 tons of fibre per square mile, or 1,365,000 tons for the whole area. Furthei surveys of the deposits made by engineers show that large quantities of the fibre are distributed over different areas of Spencer's and St. Vincent's Gulfs, South Australia.

The quantity of fibre that can be brought to the surface is dependent only on the amount of dredging power with which the various companies are equipped. The plants which it fls proposed to employ, in the first instance are expected to raise in the aggregate 20,000 tons pei annum. Taking the estimate of the cost of, >the fibre (delivered) as %d per 11 (or £7 per ton), and the average selling price as 'low as per lb (although it is estimated that this will be considerably exceeded), the combined profits of the subsidiary companies dealing with the various concessions would, on the above basis, be £140,000 per annum. It is impossible to estimate at present with any certainty the cost of raising and preparing the fibre for market; estimates vary from less than £3 per ton to £7 or £8 per ton. With efficient machinery capable of dealing with a large output, lit is believed that the total cost, delivered in Europe, will not exceed £5 per ton. The fibre is already deglutinised by the process of Nature, and is prac tically ready for the manufacturers' •use, only requiring the sea sand : shells, etc., to be washed out, and thus entirely save the heavy expense of preparation for the market that is necessary with fibre derived from other sources. The fibre is unshrinkable, easy to bleach and dye, and when mixed with wool, proportioned according to grade, can be spun by ordinary machinery into yarns suitable for blankets and cloths of various kinds, and also for the warp of many grades of carpets, and for other purposes. Samples cf the fibre have been submitted for bacteriological examination to the laboratories of Pathology and Public Health, 38 New Cavendish-street, London, W v who report that as recovered in nature it is clean and wholesome and almost sterile, and is found to resist the action of putrefying bacteria. It is, therefore, peculiarly adapted for use in the upholstery trade. Judging from the samples that have been sent to England and which have been tested by woollen cloth manufacturers, it is anticipated that considerable quantities of the fibre will be used in the cloth industry. The nett cost of delivery c.i.f., London as calculated on the actual working by the dredger is £5 10s per ton, thus leaving a large margin of profit. Tests with this marine fibre which

have been made in Australia, prove its suitability for mixing with wool for making cloth and other fabrics. Also for carpets, blankets, floorcloths, bags, etc., and numerous other purposes. In fact, there is every reason to believe that this fibre will take a great place in the world's markets. It is, of course, quite suitable for paper making, but the extensive market for the product at a higher price than paper manufacturers can pay, will probably prevent its use in that direction. The fibre will take any dye most readily, either vegetable or aniline. The Australian wool industry at once suggests an important use. It is well known that particles of the jute in woolpacks and the string used in tying, frequently get into the wool and being undetected, often spoil the manufactured goods. So serious has this difficulty become that attempt have recently been made to overcome it by lining the bags with paper. The most economical and effective remedy will be the use of m.'.rine fibre for making woolpacks and tiie tying string. Any stray threads then getting into the wool will do no harm, as the fibre takes the dye exactly as the wool does. The fibre weaves equally as well as wool. Australasia alone produced last year 2,380,000 bales of wool, i.e., 2,380,000 woolpacks; taking the weight of each; woolpack at this equals 26,----775,0001b., using marine fibre at s profit of say Id per lb. would give a profit of £111,400 per annum. The whole production of the rest of the world may be estimated at aboufi double the above. Taking only an equal number of woolpacks gives a further profit of £222,899 from this source alone. Some people talk of using wool for making the packs, but the cost would certainly be prohibitive.

Mr Baker, through the kindness of Mr W. D. Wade, exhibited some fine

cloth materials (suitings) just arrived from Huddersfield, in the manutfacture of which this fibre has been

used in varying proportions ,and nc better proofs are needed to illustrate the future this Australian vegetable fibre is destined to play in this direction alone.