THE FLAXMAN'S NIGHTMARE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 34, 4 November 1907, Page 2

THE FLAXMAN'S NIGHTMARE.

«. I DANCERS AND SOME REMEDIES. Tliore is greater anxiety felt just now in the Hax-milling districts over tlic slump than is generally rovealetl. Some say in whispers' that flax is "done" for two years; and others exclaim, mournfully: "Two years! Will it ever recover?" Thore seems to be a good case to be made out for pessimism on this important point, and, if one deals with the matter from a igloomy standpoint, it is not because one desires to damp the spirit of enterprise, but because of tho necessity which exists for strenuously facing tho crisis. The Crux of the Collapse. What is the chief cause, among the many possible causes, of the fall in prices? Tho fact that manila leads tho fall seems to point to the commodity as the leaden instrument that is pulling the market down. The output of manila is fast increasing, and it is superior, for all purposes, to our flax, Tho cultivation of sisal in Brisbane, South America, and other tropical and semi-tropical territories, is also fast extending; and Java, with its teeming population, has introduced the New Zealand flax. These existing supplies, and tho greater supplies in prospect, are not hidden from the Ayes of the home buyers of fibre, and what fall in prices is not warranted by present; supplies, is warranted by the greater supplies in viow. It would seem that there is a plausiblo case to be made out against optimism in flax circles. Economy Wanted. What the present, outlook seems to demand is not so much an increased export,' nor even, perhaps, improved quality, but« cheaper production. Wisdom dictates that we should —in flax and iii every other pri-mary-product—prepare to face low prices soon. Preparation to face low prices, will not hasten their arrival, for the buyer at Home is not concerned with what ail article lias cost to produce. Good times have made us a wasteful community. We have been spoilt into looking always for higher prices, and never for economies down below. But, the tendency of the world in this year "of grace, 1907, is toward over-production. That is the case with fibre, and it will be, we fear, the ' case with, dairy, products liefore long. • Cheap Labour—Fertility—Peace. The countries where fibre can be successfully raised have almost unlimited expanses of fertile soil and fertile climate. They have cheap, black labour; and they have,' ,just now, peace. The supplies of thoir products must go up with immense increases; they will produce with cheap labour on cheap land; and they will be able to survive prices that would close all our factories down' unless we can cffect extensive economies. Tightening the Scrcws. ' Where shall those economies begin ? the popular voice will say to the flax nidustrj;. "Decrease your royalties: they must move on a sliding scale." The Government will say: "Improve your methods of'cultivation: plant the varieties we have labelled as the most profitable;,.mill more carefully.", The miller will say: "Labour's share must be readjusted." Possibly—may we not say probably?—the aid of all these things will have to be called in before we shall again bo floating on smooth waters; This coming year, of 1908 will have to bo a year of stalwart economies and grim stoppages of waste. The Anglo-Saxon brain must become, pnpernaturally active to pilot the flax ship over a market that will, perhaps, he inundated .with cheap labour products. .. : THE MANAWATU SHOW. " A VISITOR'S IMPRESSIONS. •'■ THE LADY WHO CAItRIED ' OFF THE PALM. ■ Mr. Henry Overton, a well-known'North l Canterbury farmer,- a leading member of the Canterbury A. and P. 'Association, was : a visitor to tho Palmerstori North Show, interviewed 1 on Saturday for his opinions on the gathering, he said: — " Tho Palmerston Show was undoubtedly a great people's show, for it was not only an agricultural and pastoral exhibition, where magnificent Lincoln and Romney sheep were to bo seen, but contained also most ereditablu exhibits of nearly all other breeds, as well as some very fine cattle, draught horses, pigs, fowls, dogs, etc. Theso in themselves- were all 'good, hut what the majority of the people, wero mostly interested in was the great number of entries of light horses, and the oxcellently arranged jumping competitions, as well as the clover horsemanship of the girls and ladies in their divided skirts.- While undoubtedly that style is the better one for both rider and horse, .one could not help admitting that for gracefulness and style the lady who rode on the sidesaddle easily carried off the palm. " Then again, the great number of side' shows, including excellent works of art,-in-dustry, and produce, and the almost innumerable places of amusement, were sufficient to eater for all classes, so that it was littlo wonder that the attendance on each, of the secohd and third- days could not have been less than 20.000. 1 " It was particularly striking to sec the 1 packed condition of the grandstand on both of these days, when tho vast .assembly' of well-dressed people watched with the keenest interest and pleasure the well-| 'arranged' parada of stock and general ring' competitions, where very clever '.work' was done by both riders and horses, and I must say that the'competitions by the children created an immense amount of interest to all." THE DAIRY QUESTION. 1 WHAT HAS THE FUTURE IN STORE? Tho position of the dairy industry in relation to possible Hooding of the market in the. future is well worth consideration. Conmierical authorities point to the vastness of some of the countries that are entering into production of butter and cheese, and they warn us that increased surpluses cannot be absorbed except at reduced, prices. AVhen supplies increase we must lower the price ta encourage consumption. The very prosperity that has engulfed us in the past will hasten the competition of rivals. The higher our prices soar, the more suddenly may bo the i,lcsccnt. And they are, in all truth, high enough to be precarious. Dairying'pays us at 120s.'to-day. Would it pay us at 90s; to morrow? Where are the Leakages? 'As in the flax problem, so in the buttor and cheese; we need to ask ourselves where are the leakages, if any, that would bankrupt us with butter at 90s. ? Tho Minister •for Agriculture,' with his newly-imported milking strains, would say: " Grado up your herds." Mr. Clifton .would say: "Clean up your dairies." . Mr. Cuddie would urge attention to; the lessons of tho dairy-school that is about to bo. The man in the street will advise tho use of milking machines; and the man who is not yet in the industry will complain bitterly of tho high price of land. Dairying, it is said, is partly responsible for the high price of our land, although the high prices of the Hawko's Bay sheep lauds somewhat qualify the statement. And a question which forces itself upon consideration is, how this state of affairs is going to be remedied ? A Missing Account. Farmers nowadays are beginning to understand the science of depreciation in regard to implements. But there is no column in their accounts set apart for depreciation of land. The land owner considers it quito a natural development that the price of his land shall go up. That is well, so long as prices are good. But it is not far-sighted. With dropping prices (when they begin) wo shall have to set apart our 2$- per cent, annually for depreciation in tho value of our land —at the very time when that now fea- , turc "'ill ba difficult to finance.