DAMAGED FLAX.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 29, 29 October 1907, Page 2

DAMAGED FLAX.

. . THE GRADERS IN! REPLY,'. ,! Two Government flax graders—Mr. Johnston, of Auckland, , • and Mr. ; Hawkins', the grader in charge at -Wellington—in 'conversation with a Dominion representative last • ovonirig,' combatted statements- , reported' in Tile Dominion of Monday in an article or. tho reconditioning of flax at Miraiu'ar. • ■■'. They distinctly , deny the statement made to our representative, and '-published in that article, that 500 bales of the Hiix; at' Mirarnaf are badly scutched or badly stripped."' They assert that, in actual fact, although a large proportion of "-common " flax was shipped on thoTurakiiia, they have'had difficulty in finding it now that the bales "are" opened' out in; tho paddocks. These gentlemen,' who have' visited Mirahiar several times, : were, they state, more than pleased ■ with" the general' appearance of"the 'whole cargo.- They express themselves certain "that,', so far as '-' 500 bales that • should never : have 'been shipped" are concerned; there "is 'not' a hank ; in tho ■\yholo consignment' that can 'be' thus referred to. "• From what is how in the sheds it appears to be'all clean, well-milled fibre. '"'Thoy- flatly'contradict statement that the fibre will , be-'iri better , condition when it'go'es outa'fter re-conditioning." - ' 1 . ,, ' , lii regard to the tow ? however, they fully agree that a large percentage of : it : should never have boon put aboard tho But it imist.ho distinctly''understood that grader 3 have 'whatever to do with tow. . It is shipped ungraded, ■ at the' owner's responsibility—a practice which' must;' ultimately bo very detrimental to'tho industry. 1 : ' ■',