THE MANUFACTURE OF CORN BROOMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 8950, 14 January 1888, Page 6

THE MANUFACTURE OF CORN BROOMS.

Perhaps one of the most successful industries in Auckland at the present time is the manufacture of corn brooms. There are but two corn broom factories in the oolony, one of which is situate in Dunedin and the other in Auckland, known as the "Kapai" Corn Broom Factory, at Basque Road, Eden Ter» race, and of which Mr. Harbutc is the proprietor. lie is at present turning out 6000 brooms per month, which, besides supplying the local market, are shipped to ail parts of the colony. The bandies are also manufactured by tbe firm, as they can be made more cheaply than by the timber mills. When in full work Borne 18 hands are engaged. His great difficulty is a regular supply of broom corn, and he is obliged to import it from America, sending out of the country thousands of pounds whioh ought to be kept in it. Be states that broom corn ought to be grown here as easily as any other crop. For years he distributed seed to tbe country settlers, with a pamphlet containing instructions for its culture, but he did not get in response a quarter of. a ton of broom corn. The settlers, apparently, will not take the trouble, though it is a good-paying crop, and he is prepared to buy all they can produce at fair rates. Failing the local settlers, he is now endea vouring to get supplies from Fiji and Samoa ; but if the settlers would grow broom corn, the saviug of freight and exchange in the importation of this material from America would lead to a further reduction of the manufactured artiole in favour of the pur* chaser. Mr. Harbutt attributes his success in this local industry (whioh is driving out importations) to being content with a small profit, and turning out a good article. He states that a number of our local industries have been killed by pursuing a policy the reverse of thisnamely, trying to extract a large profit, and manufacturing an indifferent class of goods.