THE NEW ZEALAND CLOTHESTG FACTORY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1159, 14 February 1874, Page 5

THE NEW ZEALAND CLOTHESTG FACTORY.

The manufacture of clothing tipon a large ••Scale is an industry thai &as been carried on with great gueeeas for years past in Mel•ourne and Sydney, but here it is almost an •entirely new branch of business. It was « ominenced some time ago by one Dunedin firm, but was soon discontinued. We have upon several occasions referred to the New Zealand Clothing Factory started by Hallenstein Brothers and Co. ; and now that the firm have taken possession of their new and extensive premises, we prepose to give a more detailed account of what they have done and what they intend to do. The new manufactory is in Rattray street, oppoaite the Custom House, in the building formerly known as Baxter's Bond. The building, however, has undergone such extensive alterations, in order to make it thoroughly suitable to the purpose for which it is required, that inside it looks like an entirely saew structure. These alterations were carried out under the direction of Mr Ross, the architect. The building, which is of stone, now consists of three flats, each 92ft. long by 28ft. wide. Half the ground floor will be used for a show-room, while the other portion will be occupied by the offices and room for storage. The first floor is divided into three apartments, the partitions being of glass, so as to render the work of supervision more easy, and to afford more light. One of the rooms on this floor is used as a cutting-room ; another as a pressing-room, and the third as a receivingroom. On the Becoad floor is one large apartment, 92ft. by 28ft., used as a general work-room. Here also are the machine and finishing departments. There are fourteen sewing machines in use, including a binding machine and a button-hole machine, both by Singer. These, we are informed, are the only two of the kind in the Colonies, and they are both handsome and expensive. Hallenstein Brothers and Co. commenced their present business on the premises known as the Old Provincial Hotel, where they remained for about four weeks, and they only moved into the new manufactory about a fortnight ago. Tne alterations have not been completed yet, so that a short time will have to elapse before they get into full work. At the present time there are sixty hands employed, the greater number of whom are women and girla, but the firm are prepared to employ two hundred more as soon as they can get them. The managing partner, who for a number of years held the position of manager of one of the largest clothing manufactories in Melbourne, brought over his foremen and forewomen for the different departments with him, and most of them are persons who served their time under him as apprentices. One great feature of the system in force at the New Zealand Clothing Factory, is the division of labour, and the only qualification necessary in those who Beck employment there is ability to plain sew, for the labour is mostly unskilled. We were shown the books of the establishment in order to get an idea of what the employes could earn, and it could easily be seen tbat it took them a very short time to learn their business, and that when they knew it they could earn good wages. Some women who could only do plain sewing were employed for a fortnight at ten shillings a week, while they learned to finish trousers. After this they went on to piece work, and the first week they earned fifteen shillings and ninepence, the second week sixteen shillings, the third week twenty-one shillings and ninepence, the fourth week twenty-five shillings and sixpence, and the fifth week tweutyaeven shillings, which is about; the highest they will be able to make. There are ten apprentices at present employed, articled for either one or two years ; and when the estab* lishrnent is in full work the proportion of apprentices will be about forty, in a total number of three hundred hands. Women apprentices receive seven and sixpence a week for the first six months, twelve shillings for the second six months, fifteen shillings for the third, and twenty shillings for the fourth. Girls of about twelve years of age are also taken as apprentices, and they are paid for the first six months two and sixpence, for the second five shillings, and for the third seven and sixpence. When their time is up their apprentices will always be readily employed at the manufactory, as from their knowledge of the business they generally make the best piecework hands. As we stated before, division of labour has been found to be of great advantage to the manufacture of clothing, Waistcoats— the smallest article made at the factory of vhich we are writing — pass through at least eight hands, while the other articles go through from eight to a dozen hands. For instance, a woman who sews on buttons never does anything else, and so on with felling and tacking, buttonhole making, binding, &c. This, however, only applies to hands who are employed on piece work ; the apprentices learn the business right through. Tbe hours of labour are frwn half-past eight o'clock in the mornfc ing until half-past five in the evening, from one until two o'clock in the afternoon being allowed for dinner. We must not omit to mention that the work-rooms are light, comfortable, and well ventilated, while on the premises there are lavatories provided with every convenience for the work-people. There is also a large copper on the premises for boiling water, so that those who like to have their dinner there can make tea or coffee. In every respect, the firm appear to have made provision for the comfort of their employe's, and we have no doubt they will

reap fcheir rfeVard in being able to command \h.<e services of a superior class of hands. On Saturdays work is discontinued at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, and the work-people are paid as they leave the premises, the daily work having previously been entered up in a book. None of them are ever kept after the regular hours, and no overtime is allowed. The men's and boys' clothing manufactured on the premises is made of broadcloth, doeskins, and tweeds, from the best English, Continental, Australian, and New Zealand manufacturers, and at the present time the firm have about £1000 worth of ready-made clothing on the premises, all ready for sale. By the first of next month this stock will have been increased to £3000 worth, and then it is purposed to commence selling. When freight and duty are taken into consideration, it will easily be seen that Hallenstein Bros, and Co. will be easily able to compete with the Melbourne manufacturers, and there appears to be every prospect of the New Zealand Clothing Factory being a great success.