TOWN THAT HAS BEEN REBORN.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 26, 28 December 1932, Page 2

TOWN THAT HAS BEEN REBORN.

HIVE OF INDUSTRY CREATED ON COMMUNAL BASIS.

For about ten years more than onethird of the adult population of Byrnmawr, a Breconshire mining town or 10,000 inhabitants, have been practically without work. Two years ago tho Society of Friends came to the valley and set about devising ways of an economic and physical revival. ~ . . Under the roof of an old factory, once used for bootmaking, there is being conducted to-day under the style of Brynmawr and Clydach Valley Industries, Ltd., a remarkable experiment in co-operative manufacture of furniture, woven wool fabrics and hosiery. In addition, there is a scheme of poultry keeping, for which part of the factory is used as offices and stores. The old bootmaking plant was bought at low cost, and men and girls now produce about 300 pairs of miners’ boots weekly, at a profit. Organised market gardening and allotment holding are also in prospect. Furniture making is the most active side of the factory. A number of youths, trained by an expert, are producing school and house furniture and selling it in all parts of England and Wales. , Boys produce hard-wearing woollen tweeds, directed by an artist in colouring and design. About twenty girls are employed in machine knitting of socks. . A drearv old colliery tip has been converted into a beautiful park, with a bathing pool, the miracle being performed by students from all parts of Europe, recruited by the International Voluntary Service, and working side by side with' local unemployed.