NEW FIBRE WORKS TO OPERATE AT SHANNON

Shannon News, 30 October 1928, Page 3

NEW FIBRE WORKS TO OPERATE AT SHANNON

Important Venture

IMPORTS OF ARTICLES TO BE MADE TOTALLED , £735,000 IN 1925

AMPLE RAW MATERIAL.

The new company which is being formed to manufacture sacks, rope and other fibre materials in Shanion, is going ahead with its organisation and will shortly be registered. A "News" representative was shown samples of sacking, fishing net, softened fibre, rope, and thread manufactured out of local flax. The prospects are particularly bright, as New Zealand hemp will make first-class sacks, sacking, bagging, matting, rope and twine, and it is moie than possible that scrim, for which there is a good demand, will be manufactured. Shannon has been chosen as the centre of operations owing to its position in the flax-milling industry. The largest mill operating in New Zealand is situated near the site of the proposed works, and the supply of raw material will always be available. Another factor is the proximity of the Mangahao hydro-electric woiks. Rope is being manufactured on a Bmall scale in Shannon at the present moment and the eoncerff is bard pushed to supply the orders. The rope is only being manufactured with out-of-date appliances and can yet supply aa excellent article. An idea of the value of the imports into New Zealand of the articles it ia intended to manufacture can be seen from the- following, the figures of which are taken from the 1925 returns:— £ Sacks ■ ... 455,109 Rope ~ 103,907 Fine twine .. ~. .. 73,148 Scrim K'3,242 Total '.. .. .. .. £735,406 This movement to establish a new industry in the area should meet with success, and from the names mentioned to the Press representative, the right men, are behind the movement.