BRUCE WOOLLEN MILLS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19066, 11 January 1924, Page 10

BRUCE WOOLLEN MILLS.

MILTON’S BIG INDUSTRY. A PROGRESSIVE COMPANY. In the old coaching days Milton was a bnsy centre, but after the linking up of the various districts by railway the conditions changed very considerably. For many years there was a very limited opportunity for employment outside of the primary industries, and there was a danger that the once thriving town would drift into a state of absolute stagnation. Fortunately this was averted by the enterprise of a, number of citizens, who had sufficient ■confidence to undertake the formation of the Bruce Woollen Manufacturing Company, which has for a little more than zo years carried on operations most successfully, and which is to-day the most important commercial undertaking in the district-. . . The question of establishing woollen mills in the district was considered about 1884 or lt>os, hut no action was taken at that time. The movement which led to the formation of the company was the result of the publication in the Bruce ilerald on April 14, 18ao, of the following paragraph from “Stray Thoughts on Milton,” contributed by a casual visitor ; “There is one thing that I take the liberty of suggesting that would, if brought about, quickly treble your population and make your town one of the most prosperous »u the colonv, and that is that a woollen mill be established in Milton. Your position is good, and you have every facility required for carrying on such an establishment successfully. This is the candid opinion of a one-'day visitor.” Two corre epondents wrote to the Bruce Herald in support of the suggestion made, and eventually interest was aroused, a public meeting to consider the matter being held or May 29 of the same year. The meeting was attended by iso people, and the chair was taken by Dir Wm. Moore, sen. Mr F M’Leod, -who addressed the meeting, stated that the capital necessary to start the concern was £15,000, which would be sufficient to purchase machinery and site, erect buildings, purchase sufficient wool, and also to pay all wages for a year. It was estimated ‘ that 100 hands would, be emploved throughout the year, while the wages were roughly estimated per annum. A most important point was that five practical men, .our of whom were employed at Messrs Ross and Glendining’s mill, were prepared to put £4OO each into the undertaking, each to take charge of a department and draw a nominal salary (£2 15s per wees, rising to a maximum of £3 10s). These men (Messrs Janies \valter, Thomas Walker, James Bowden, James Dmziel, and John Moroney) were also willing to allow their money to lie without interest until the other shareholders were receiving 6 per cent, interest. The building would be of brick, measuring 100 ft by 160 ft, and the machinery would cost £4OOO landed. On uune 9, 1896, another meeting was held, and on the motion of Dr Stewart it was decided that the capital of the company be £25,000 in shares of £1 each, Witii power to increase. It was decided to offer 15,000 shares to the public and to hold 10,000 in reserve. At that stage 2000 shares had been applied for. By the end of June 8500 shares had been taken up, and the company was registered during the following month, the provisional directors being Messrs Jas. Allen, M.H.R. (now Sir James Allen), H. G. Coombe, J. A. Duthie, F. Grant, W. Moore, J. W. Petrie, E. F. Palmer, H. Ransome, M. Kett, D. H- Robertson, J. M. Scanlan, A. E. Stewart, and Dr Stewart. : The statutory meeting of shareholders was held on December 29, 1895, when the interim secretary (Mr James Dalziel) reported that a careful estimate of the cost of machinery and buildings had been made as follows: —Machinery, £6OOO landed at Milton; bndldintrs, ground, engine, boiler, etc., £SOOO. The directors had secured the right of tnirchaae of 5-j acres of ground near the railway station from the executors of M'GilTs estate for £4OO. This included the right to ample water for all purposes and the use of the flourmill tramway. At this meeting 16 nominations , were received for (positions on the permanent directorate, and the following were elected: —Messrs W. Moore, J. A. Duthie, Jas. Allen, Jas. Grey, M. Henderson, and J. B. Scanlan. The directors lost no time in calling for tenders for the erection cf the works, and a start was made with the foundations at the end of February, 1897. Mr 0. Kelly (Gore) was the contractor, and the price was £3620. The completed building was handed over to the company early in October of the same year. The installation of the machinery was undertaken Without delay, and manufacturing was commenced on November 19, 1897 —18 months after the first public meeting was held. Owing to the non-arrival of the engine from England Messrs G. Porter’s and H. Hamilton’s traction engines were engaged to drive shafting so as to enable tuning to be attended to on the spinning, carding, and loom machinery. The first ' wool used to break in the carding machines was purchased from the late Mr J. B. Scanlan, and the first wool used foi manufacturing goods was Mr H. B. Ilett’s din, the merino of which was made into the first blanket turned out, This wool was grown on the Milton Borough Council’s Table Hill reserve. One grave error in planning the lay-out of the mill was the placing of the building ir one corner of the ground, with the powei centre at the extreme end, all extensions involving increased trouble in conveying power. During the early years of its existence the- company passed through a trying time owing to insufficiency of capital, bui its difficulties were overcome by the loya support oi the directors. Soon after the company had apparently got a fair start on the road to prosperity disaster overtook it in the shape of s fire, which resulted in the almost compleb •destruction of the uremises. The fire was discovered about 3 a.m. on Sunday, Apri 28, 1901, at which time flames wen bursting through the engine room, ant within three hoars only a portion of thi brick walls was left standing, the mil being completely destroyed with the ex

ception of the wool store and contents, office furniture, two small machines, and a quantity of stock which had been salvaged. About 100 employees were thrown out of work. At the time this seemed a complete knock-out for the company, but thanks to the patriotic spirit of the shareholders, especially the larger ones, sufficient capital w-as raised to start the mill again on greatly improved lines, and since then the progress of the company lias never been impeded. At the end of October, 189 S, the capital of the company was £19,227, but at various times it has been increased until it now amounts to £50,000. The expansion of business is illustrated by the increase in trade over the following periods;—l9o4, 15 per cent.; 1909, 53 per cent. ; 1914, 207 per cent.; 1909, 714 per cent. ; 1921, 936 per cent. In 1897 the staff numbered 23, in 1913 it had grown to 140, in 1920 to 230, and at present it numbers about 300. Before the company was formed it was estimated that the wages .would amount to about £3500 per annum, whereas now the amount earned by the employees is about £40,000 a year Of the employees who started work at the mill when operations were commenced three still remain in the sendee of the company —Messrs Charles Grey (general manager), Stephen Gordon, and Chris Shaw. Mr John Moroney retired early in 1922 after continuous service as chiei warehouseman. Shortly after the mill started Messrs William Kirby and P. Farrell entered the service of the company, and they are still employed as heads oi their respective departments. _Of the original directors onlv Messrs W. Moore and J. A. Duthie remain. Mr Moore hai been chairman of directors for nearly 27 years. Mr Charles Grey was appointee secretary when the company was formed but was afterwards promoted to the post tion of general manager, and during re cent years has occupied a seat on tin directorate. During the company’s existence ther< have been five mill managers. The firs was Mr Dalziel, who did not remain lon( and who was succeeded by Mr Beasley Mr John Simpson followed in 1901, anc on leaving for Onehunga he was sue ceeded by his son (Mr Gilbert Simpson) These two held the position for almost 2( years. When Mr Gilbert Simpson lef for the North Island his place was takei bv Mr Thomas Clayton, who still hold the position. The company started operations witl the manufacture of elementary lines, sucl as blankets and flannels, but the scopi has gradually been extended until nov their products embrace almost every lim of woollen manufacture. So erreat has been the demand for it products that the company- found it neces sary early last year to provide mor buildings and floor space for the erpetio of machinery. Additions within the pr« ceding 12 months had included the erec tion of a commodious warehouse and suit of offices, hut these were net sufficient Last year the company purchased Messi Fleming and Co.’s four-storev flour mil buildings, land, and water rights for th purposes of enlarging th ewoollen mi plant. Portion of the old flour mill : being used used bv the company as a wo( store. The company’s wool-scouring plar is being put into the building in order t ke room for more looms in the mill. During the last financial year the pre mises and plant were extended to th value of about £29.000. and the las balance sheet sheaved that the plant a< count stood at £76,000 and the premise account at £32.376. Some little time ago the company ir augurated a housing scheme for the bent fit. of its employees, and up till Scutari . ber 19, 1923, it had advanced £9475 f< ’ the purpose of workers’ homes. ; HITCHON’S BACON FACTOR'S , About 20 years ago Messrs Hitcho , Bros, decided to start operations in Mi I ton as bacon curefs. They started in small way, but their ( business rapidly e: tended, and in the course of a few yea; • they had business connections in all par I cf New Zealand. At the end of Novembc 1 1907, their business had grown to such a • extent that they found it necessary i erect a new brick factory- of two storey j which has been fitted up with the mo modem appliances for carrying on tl work. The building in which the worl were started was the old cheese factor ■ which soon proved inconvenient and i i adequate for the growing trade of tl ; firm. $ HILTON BATHS. i . \ NEW LEASE OF LIFE. i The acession of King George w 5 signalised in Milton by the erection of t. Coronation fresh water baths, which we 3 constructed about 19io or 1911. Aft 5 they had been open for a season, howevt 3 the" supply of water oecame inad equal • and the residents gave up using thei 1 The installation of a water supply -for t town in June last brought about a i newed interest in the baths, various ii r provements being affected by the Doma Board, and pipes being laid from t 3 borough service. The baths, which me sure 100 ft by 40ft, and which hold mo than 1000 gallons of water, were re-open 6 by the chairman of the Domain Board (-' 6 Charles Gray) on November 30 last. a r • ? s DOMAIN BOARD. r The Domain Board, which came in t existence very many years ago, has cc ,j trol of the domain reserve, in which t cricket, football, and recreation groun c are situated. Great improvements ha y been effected recently in the shape a new football and cricket grounds. T e board has also undertaken the provisi s of a children’s playirround, work in cc il nection with which has been commence e and an extension of the small bait beau J ful gardens located there. lunds t e these improvements t were raised by mca U of a Queen Carnival, which realised abo -. £4OO.