DUNEDIN MILLS PRODUCED RUGS FOR ROYAL TOUR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26956, 16 December 1948, Page 6

DUNEDIN MILLS PRODUCED RUGS FOR ROYAL TOUR

Special to the Times WELLINGTON, Dec. 15.

Dunedin manufacturers made the three travelling rugs which the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, presented to the King, the Queen, and Princess Margaret at Buckingham Palace this week. The manufacturers concerned believe them to be the finest of their kind ever produced in New Zealand. The Government ordered the rugs early this year for presentation to the royal visitors before they began the tour, but’, because of its postponement, they were flown to the United Kingdom in less'than a week by Tasman Empire Airways and Qantas Airways. The Dunedin manufacturers suggested a royal tartan for the rugs, and when the King was approached he chose Hunting Stewart. The manager of the mills which made the rugs said that Hunting Stewart, with its sombre tonings, was a difficult combination with which to obtain the maximum effect, but it was considered that the optimum in colour combination had been achieved in these rugs. Everyone in the mills, including foremen, craftsmen, and the embroideress, had had a personal interest in endeavouring to produce something really outstanding. He added that they felt that the Government would be as proud as the mills were of this "well made New Zealand ” product.

Four coloured illustrations of the tartan were studied by the mills, and the blue and green predominant colours were decided upon after five different dyeings. The colour of the plain back was first made in the regulation rug camel shade, but the mills were not satisfied that the matching effect was perfect so a pastel green shade was selected as the mpst nearly perfect supplementary shade, and a further quantity of rugs was made. These were then passed for colour and quality, the finest merino wool available having been used specially sorted for evenness in quality and staple. A few yards of fine material of exactly the same yarn as the plain back of the rugs was then made and embroidered with the official coat of arms of New Zealand. Each coat of arms took a week to embroider, having been copied from a colour lithograph.