THE PARLIAMENTARY VISIT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4429, 5 July 1882, Page 4

THE PARLIAMENTARY VISIT.

THE KAIAPOI WOOLLEN FACTORY. Of the speeches made at the gathering at Kaiapoi yesterday, the following will, we think, be of interest to our readers :— Mr Montgomery proposed success to the "Kaiapoi Woollen Manufacturing Company," remarking that, though only four years in existence, they had now 473 hands in their employ — (cheers) — a fact which all would be gratified to hear. In addition to this, the Company made use of large quantities of other productß of the Colony in the shape of wool and coal, &c, of which their Chairman would doubtless acquaint them; but he would just point out that such works were not only of great local benefit, but of Colonial importance. The Colony wanted not only to be made productive but self-reliant— (hear, hear)— and it was to the manufacturers that they should look. Merchants were well enough in their way as distributors, but it was to the manufacturers that eelf-reliance must bo looked for. This Company had been iormed by men who had energy, prudence, and sagacity, and their success was assured. The public owed the Directors their thanks for the success that they had attained as no doubt, but for their persistency and determination, the industry would have failed ; and further, they owed a debt of gratitude to their chief Director, Mr Wilson, to whom its success was principally due ; and while he had showed indomitable zeal, he had brought character to bear upon it which had made him highly respected wherever he went. (Cheers.) Mr Wilson had shown himself to bo a thoroughly honourable, good colonist; and he would couple the toast with that gentleman's name. (Loud cheering.) Mr Wilson said that the success of tho undertaking they had entered into was due to the employees in a great measure, and though it might be more by good luck than good management, they had been extremely fortunate in this respect, as a more industrious and efficient lot of mea they could not wish for. They commenoed operations four years ago with a capital of £15,000, £9COO of which was paid up, but they had not been long at work before they saw that it wae necessary to enlarge, and by securing the best men as heads of the different departments, and thus rendering eaoh respectively responsible, they had attained their object. One of their Direotors had also been to England and America, and had made himself thoroughly acquainted with the machinery required, the result being that they had a plant more completo than in moat of the old and well-known mills in the Old Country ; because they had been enabled thus to secure such modern improvements as were not in use in England in consequence of the depression in manufacturing districts. They were thus very much ahead in many respocts of these mills. They had in July, 1878, 27 hands ; in 1879, 51 ; in 1880, 93 ; in 1881, 203 ; and now they employed 473, with a capital of £100,000, £75,000 of which waa paid up. It might also bo interesting for them to know that they consumed- £36,000 worth of wool, 2800 tons of coal, 3000 gallons of oil, and 40 tons of scap, all Colonial products, and they had not gone outside the Colony for any machinery they could procure in it. Their large engine had, despite the opposition of shareholders and others, been procured in Ohristchurch, and he waa pleased to inform them that it answered the moat sanguine expectations, and had proved a great success, as a better could not be imported. A great deal of the shafting and the boilers had also boon procured in Chrißtchurch. £20,000 had been spent in buildisgs at Eaiapoi and Christchurch. He would merely remark, in conclusion, that if there wsb a freetradorpreaent, he only required to bo Director of a Company such as this one ; he would not be so for three months without altering his views and becoming an ultra-protectionist. He begged to thank them for their attendance there, and I for the manner in which the toast had been j received, both of which were a proof that the industry was one of general and colonial importance. (Cheers.) Mr Hurst, M.H.K., proposed — " Success to the Local Industries," remarking that it was a question most difficult for tho Legislature to deal with, and a subject so large that it would not be a fitting occasion to open up the question. 'Xhe resourced of the Colony were so great, and the enterprise of colonists bo formidable, that fresh industries were cropping up, and being successfully carried on on all sides of them. He would leave it to the hon member who waa to reply to tho toaßt, humorously alluding to a speeoh of that gentleman's during the stonewa:ling debate, Baying that his. (Mr Hursthouse'a) speech on boots was well worthy of perusal, and would repay the trouble of looking up. Farming was a most excellent industry, but they could not rest on that alone, and he hoped to see this Britain of the Bouth filled with suoh establishments aB the one that the Chairman and Directors of the Kaiapoi Company had shown such energy in establishing. He admired the pluo*. wMch they had displayed, and could not but think that while they in the Forth had been talking about such movements, the people in the South had done the work. Still, a healthy emulation would bo kept up, especially as the climate in the North was so favourable that they could Bupply commodities which could not be procured in the South.

Mr Hurathouse remarked that while a section of the Press of the Colony had deprecated tho action of tho House in adjourning to allow of the members visiting the Exhibition, he felt that their timo had been far better spent in seeing the resources of the Colony than in passing measures which were of little or no use to the Colony, and which were found, when passed, to be impracticable. (Loud laughter and cheers.) Without going at length into the question of free trade and protection, he would remark that the Colony had a grand future before it for manufacturing, and he hoped to live to see the day when instead of Bending the wool Homo in its original form, nine-tenths of it would be sent Home in the shape of manufactured goods. He waß surprised, when at the clothing factory, to see tho cutters' clippings, and remarked that he supposed they were Bent to the mill to be made up into shoddy, bub he learnt that they were sont Home, and presumed they were there made up into euperfine broadoloth. (Laughter.) He haped this industry would bo supported, by every one wearing the material and other Oolonially-made goods, and thus show that tboy were satisfied with tho local productions. He referred to Mr Joubert's example at the lunoh at the Exhibition, in wearing a suit of Kaiapoi tweed in preference to broadcloth. It waß necessary to dispel, if possible, the wretched prejudices there were against anything Colonial, as some people were so narrow-minded as to think that articles cannot be good if they are not made at Home, and even agreed that a cabbage had a better flavour if it camo from England. (Laughcor.) The Colony was to him (Mr Hurßthouse) what Britain was to a great many of them, and he hoped to see it placed foremost in the list of the British Colonies as a manufacturing Colony. The woollen industry had struggled along in its infancy oven in Nelson, usually known as " Sleepy Hollow ;" but though it went along quietly, some fair quality material was turned out from it. Iho Kaiapoi Company's plan of eending canvassing agents had proved an excellent one, as even he had been canvassed for shares at his farm there ; and that reminded him — he would cash hia dividend warrant directly. (Laughter.) By their energy they had Rained the position they now held, and he hoped they would meet with general support. In Nelson they were initiating two now industries — jama and preserves, and the manufacture of Portland cement, both ueeful, the latter being especially required in the Colony, and he believed they could make a better article than was im> ported from Home. It was useless, under the circumstances, to shut their eyes and send Homo for manufactures when they could procure them hero, or to buy one, because it happened to have a name. It was the same with hundreds of other things — they were despised because they did not come from Homo. Ho considered tho publio owed the promoters of tho Exhibition a debt of gratitude if only for the opportunity afforded them of seeing local productions put side by eido with imported ones, and he was ashamed to say that several short-sighted manufacturers even refused to exhibit their manufactures. He hoped that all would patronise the locally mado goods, and thon success must attend thorn. (Choers.)

DEPABTUUB OF THE MBMBEE3,

The members of Parliament returned to Wellington last night by tho steamora Hawea and Hinemoa, both veesela leaving the port with their Baloons quito full of passengers. The Hinemoa hod about 73 passengers, and

over 60 were booked by the Hawea, besides a large^ number who had not taken tiokets. The spocial train reached Lyttelton at 11.20, and the passengers lost no time in getting aboard their respective steamers, both ef which were ready for a start. Mr Meddings gave another exhibition of the electric light, using two arc lamps, whioh illuminated the wharf and its surroundings very brilliantly. As the train reached the railway station the Lyttelton Brass Band — which had turned out for the occasion — commenced playing and marched down to tha wharf, where they played a selection of popular airs. Mr E. Teague, photogiapher, took several views of those on the wharf, and one of the Hinemoa and her passengers, besides a capital view of the dynamo machines.

The Hißemoa was the first to leave (at 11.50 p.m), and as she got under weigh the band struck up "Auld Lang Syne " and the members were loudly cheered as they started on their journey back to their legislative duties. Five minutes later the Hawea left and hearty cheers were exchanged between the passengers and those on the wharf, the band continuing to play " Auld Lang Syne." Considerable interest is felt as to the result of the race up between the two steamerß.