PALMERSTON DAY BY DAY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 787, 9 April 1910, Page 13

PALMERSTON DAY BY DAY.

HEMP AND MANILA,

(Prom Our Srecial Correßnondent.)

, Palmerston North, April.B. .Mr. W. Akers, who has been ■ on a visit to,the Old Country, and who took particular notice on His travels'of the hemp industry, gave his experience to a number of flaxmillers yesterday. Mr. Akers said he first visited the Philippines, and the chief feature of the industry there.was the cheap native labour, there being millions of natives willing to work the. whole season for a very small sum'.' At. Manila he saw 29,000 bales sent away in one week. Bedsides the native population, there were .Chinese, and Japanese, who came for the flax season. Tho actual cost of producing a ton of fibre was from £8 to £10, and there was an immenso profit. All. the. best »Manila- hemp went to America, tho low grades going to London, and it was this latter with which Isew Zealand had to- compete.- Mr.' Alters said he had met a Dr. Norman, who held a-high position in the'Gerfrian jAgncultural Department, who had been experimenting with New Zealand hemp, and he had discovered a process which would make our hemp spinnable and suitable for clothing, which would increase the possibilities of the industry enormously. He also found that Now Zealand hemp was used for many purposes in Italy, and ha was sure the fibre would become ■ useful in many trades. The output of Manila would not decrease even if the price fell to £10 or £12, . 'The methods in the /Philippines were most, orude, .'and it was only the"cheap labour.that enabled the .millers there to make the profits they did. New. Zealand hemp competed with the lowest grades of Manila, and our pricesi were regulated hy what this poor stuff brought. All New Zealand flax : should go through one channel, and they would then get a better price, and if ■thoy could produce it up to "fine," they would get £25. a ton. New Zealand hemp was badly marketed, and he wonld strongly urge sending a represent tative Home. Mr. Akers's: experience, was most interesting and instructive, and he was heartily thanked by the preV sident of the Flaxmillers' Association, Mr. R. T. Bell, for tho interest ho had displayed iu the welfare of the industoy- ■ ; ' ■

There was a large attendance at the -meeting last night convened by Mr. G. Wilson, with the object of organising a public debating society. The Mayor (Mr. J. A. Nash) occupied the chair, and explained the object of the meeting, and pointed out that such an institution would fill a long-felt want. It was proposed-to establish the society on the broadest basis. He said Sir. Wilson, who had convened the meeting, had had considerable experience in the formation of similar, societies elsewhere, and his knowledge on those matters would be of the utmost value to/theiu. Mr. Wilson then • briefly outlined tho proposed objects 'of the society. The chief object aimed at was' to promote closer fellowship, ah'ctthe broadening of the mind by an interchange of thoughts and ideas. Such a society was much needed in, Palmerston, It would be tho business of tho committee, when formed, to arrange a syllabus on the most varied lines, including debates, lectures, evenings with poets, mock parliaments, mock trial by jury, etc. Ho thought there was ample material in the town from which to form an excellent society. _ Oh the motion, of. Mr. M. Cohen, it was resolved that a society bo formed to be called "The Palmerston North Literary and-Debating Society," and the following committee was set up to draw up rules and a syllabus: Messrs Cohen, Burnard, Proctor, Cooke, Billons, Brown, and Wilson.

The annual meeting of members of tho Phoenix Hockey Club was held last night, when the following officers wero elected:—Patron. Mr. H. B. Tucker; president, Mr. T. Childs; vice-presi-dents, Messrs. J- Bell, M... Millar, G. E. Trevor, W. Bunting, and Mrs. Adams; secretary and treasurer, Mr. G. Watehorii; general committee, Messrs. N. Stnbbs, IT. M'Gregor, B. M'Mucray, and G. Watchorn; selection committee, Messrs. H. M'Gregor, A.- Eskidt, .and G. 'Watchorn; delegates to the association, Messrs. R. M'Murray and B. Shortt. Three new members were elected. Tho balance-sheet showod the club to be in a sound financial position. At the Police Court to-day a man named Daniel Keano pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing goods from a Chinese shop, and was sentenced to two months' hard labour.