The Star. SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 1871. CLOTH MILLS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 897, 15 April 1871, Page 2

The Star. SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 1871. CLOTH MILLS.

TThe utilisation of the products of a J new country by means of local indusI tries is a project worthy of the support I of the public and of encouragement by I the Government of that country. J The importance of fostering native irianufactures has been fully recognised by thbe Victorian Government, large bonuses having been offered for the production Tn the colony of woollen clpbbfof such a quality, and at Buch a tbat it could be placed! in the / market to compete with an imported article of a similar quality. The result has been that Tweeds have been manufactured in Victoria which are not only largely used in that colony but form an article of export. The Sydney Tweeds have long been known . as a serviceable article, and thoße manu\factured at Nelson, in this colony, are d£,very favourable repute. A project is being mooted in Ohristchurch for starting a mill for the manufacture of Tweeds and some of the coarser kinds of woollen cloth, and the matter is well worthy of serious consideration. With plenty of water power, with a large supply of wool, which would not be subject to the various charges that home manufacturers have ultimately to defray before they can commence to work, we see no reason why, after the first expense of machinery and plant had been borne, that the speculation should^jßftt be nade to yield a handsome profit. 1 At

all events, the experiment seems to be worth trying *. whether it is to be carried out by a company, or whether two or three capitalists would be willing to take the risk, is a question for the consideration of others. Should the project be matured, it would be all important to secure the services of a skilled and practical manufacturer as superintendent, together with competent workmen. The article produced ought also to be equal in quality to that imported, and be of such a price as to tempt our clothiers to use it in place of the English or Scotch made Tweeds. If this were done, there is very little doubt that Canterburymade cloth would, like Canterbury cheese, butter, soap, and ale, eventually drive the foreign article out of our market. "Would it not be well for the General Government to endeavour to foster this particular branch of industry, by offering a bonus of £1000 in each of the provinces for the production of, say, ten thousand yards of Tweed made in the province, equal in quality, and not greater in price than the imported when placed in the clothier's Bhop ? It certainly appears to us to be a subject worthy the attention, not only of the Government, but of hon. members at the coming session of the General Assembly. In order fully to develope the resources of any country, it is necessary that every effort should be made not only to produce a raw material fit for export, but to try and manufacture that material so as to supply our own wants. If this could be done in the coarser woollen cloths, a large amount of money would be retained in the colony which now goes to England and other countries for what we believe we could make equally well ourselves. We have hitherto alluded only to Tweeds, for which the coarser sorts of wool need be used, leaving the finer sorts for exportation ; but should Tweed cloth mills be established, and prove to be successful, there is no reason why the manufacture of broad cloth should not be attempted, and this might ultimately lead to the making of other woollen goods. The proposition for starting a cloth mill in Canterbury is almost in an embryo state, but we hope to see it brought to maturity. It is time that some effort was made to shake off the lethargy which has hitherto benumbed our powers, and that Canterbury, as one of the first provinces in New Zealand in point of natural resources, should not be the last in the march of progress.