The Evening Star. MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 1871.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 318, 16 January 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star. MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 1871.

Oio of the most interesting subjects brought before the Assembly during last sittings, was the series of resolutions with reference to the encouragement of the Flax industry. Among; other means intended to effect this object, was the appointment of an exhibition of the fibre, and the various products of New Zealand flax, to be held at Wellington during the next session of the General Assembly. Although the date of the meeting of Parliament can yet be regarded as only a very indefinite thing, a notice has just been gazetted, invitine; intending exhibitors to • forward their exhibits to the Flax Commissioners. The importance of the Exhibition can scarcely be overestimated. It may be the means of affording comparisons, with most valuble results, and of eliciting ideas from the most unlikely quarters. The Phormium tenax may be regarded as the hope of New Zealand. It has in it, qualities of such a superior kind that it must eventually yet enter largely into textile fabrics. And it is the duty of every individual and every society that takes an interest in the industries of the country to aid in hastening the day when the Phormium tenax will win for itself the position in the estimation of manufacturers for which it has been gifted by nature. The vague method submitted in the Gazette for bringing manufacturers into communication with the Flax Co'umissiouers will not answer the end proposed, unless seconded by local effort and local organisation. This is a subject chat -might legitimately claim the attention of the New Zealand Local Industry League. Mere spouting theories of political economy will not fulfil the purposes which should be entertained by such an institution. It is all .very well to appoint lecturers to proclaim the unbounded faith of the League in the resources of the country, and the possibility of their easy and profitable development. But the League should show its faith by its works; and we think it might do something to practically aid in that development. If it cannot organise an exhibition of New Zealand industries, than which nothing is more legitimately within its province, it might do excellent service in acting in the capacity of a local Flax Commission, lor receiving and classifying exhibits, and aiding generally in furthering the objects of the coming exhibition. Decidedly nothing in the whole range of our products gives so much promise of affording extensive and remunerative employment to local indusfry as the Phormium tenax, and such action taken by the League would at once show its practical and useful character, and give a great impulse to the preparation and forwarding of local specimens, of our industry to the Wellington Exhibition. I