THE FLAX INDUSTRY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2236, 25 September 1889, Page 2

THE FLAX INDUSTRY

I (FBR FBXSS ASSOCIATION.)

Wellington, September 24 The Government havereoelved a report from the Agent-General on Vie 11 .x Industry. It oitne to hand too late for presentation to Parliament. The document contains some Interesting and valuable Information, and folly bears out the statement of the harm done to the export trade by the oareleas and hasty way la whloh the fibre Is prepared for market. Sir P. D. Ball lays great stress on this point, and says as much an £6 or £7 per ten is knocked off the prloe by the bad oondltlon m wh'ch the fix comes to hand, and he h«e known innUnoen where consignees have absolutely refused to take delivery. He oooslders the rrcent rise In values 1b duo to speculation In the United States consequent on the demand 'or binder twine. As showing what an Important faotor the American demand Is, be points out tb»t 55,000 to 60,000 tons of twine will be required this year In that country alone Blr Dil'on Bell proceeds to say:— " Dealers know they will always get Manilla hemp up to expectations, and can depend on the quality. To pat oar prodaots on a good footing shipments must be regular and of uniform quality." He comes to two oonolusions — (1) Tna*. high prices will depend entirely upon the supples of Manilla and sisal remaining low . (2) That jnte may to a large extent take the place of flax, and experiments arej now being made In America with maohlnery to turn It to aoooont for binder twine In tbo faoe of these two oontlneenoles, unless the method of preparing flax Is brought to a high standard, prloes will fall to nothing except for the very best qualities.