1004 



A Chip Basket Factory. 



[Feb., 



heavy, a large number objected. There the matter stood, when 

 in 1917 a large building within a hundred yards of the railway 

 station, and adjoining the quays on the riverside, which hitherto 

 had been occupied as a brick-making factory, was on the market 

 for sale. Some of those who had previously desired a factory to 

 provide their own baskets, saw that this offered a rare oppor- 

 tunity to carry out their wishes and took immediate steps to form 

 a Limited Liability Association. The nominal capital of the 

 Company is £4.000. with shares of £1 each, and 8.000 shares 

 were subscribed chiefly by members of the Tamar Valley Fruit 

 Growers' Association. The building referred to was acquired on 

 favourable terms and contains an area of 5.000 sq. ft. under 

 cover, and large yards available for the storage of timber in the 

 open. Information was obtained through a similar chip factory, 

 as to where the necessary plant could be obtained, and the engine 

 and plant were installed by August, 1919. 



Next came the work involved in procuring the right kind of 

 timber (poplar, or similar soft wood), in planing it into suitable 

 chips or shavings, and finally teaching girls to weave the baskets, 

 wire stitcfi them, and prepare and fix handles and covers. All 

 of this was satisfactorily performed after a few months' practice, 

 until at present the quality of the baskets is such that applica- 

 tions for supplies are coming from distant places, such as Here- 

 fordshire and the Channel Islands, as the baskets are believed 

 to be superior to those obtainable elsewhere. 



The factory at present employs 8 men and 18 women and girls. 

 During the first year's working over 400.000 packages were 

 made and sold, and in 1921 over 500.000. the quantity of timber 

 u^ed annually being over 300 tons. 



It is found that chip baskets are not only the best type of 

 package for strawberries, but. also for other small fruits, such as 

 raspberries, gooseberries, peaches, cherries and plums, except 

 when for jam purposes, Dessert apples also realise a higher price 

 when carefully packed in 12-lb. chips. The demand is increasing 

 so fast that steps are in contemplation for increasing the accom- 

 modation so as to do a much larger business. 



This snort note would not be complete without reference to Mr. 

 Richard H. Petherick. the energetic and capable Secretary of the 

 Association, to whose foresight and enthusiasm the Association 

 mainly owes its inception and success and also to its capable 

 manager, Mr. J. Billing. 



Ed conclusion it may be pointed out that there are many other 

 fruit growing centres which are being supplied with baskets 



