THE NEW ZEALAND FLAX INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 969, 9 November 1910, Page 10

THE NEW ZEALAND FLAX INDUSTRY.

AN EXPERT'S OBSERVATIONS. According to Mr. A. E. Mabin, head of the wool and hemp department' of Messrs. Levin and Co., who has just returned from England and the United States, there is not much to be learned just now of the future of the hemp market', but the general opinion was that low prices would continue as the rate of production of manila showed no signs of falling off. Mr. Mabin says that ho was asked repeatedly why New Zealanders could' not reduce the priceß and hold the trade. He replied that in New Zealand we worked under an Arbitration Court award,, and millers were up against a brick; wall. ,It was almost impossible except through the invention of new labour-saving appliances to reduce the cost of production. Several consumers told Mr. Mabin that New Zealand was losing its trade. Americans marvelled at our labour conditions. .Even in Australia; where our flax had been popular, manila was going into use. The gen-, 'oral--.cry was that the. New Zealand product was too dear in, comparison, with other products. He. had been informed that producers of sisal (one of the chief competitors of New Zealand flax) were experiencing a rough time owing to low prices, but, they were doing their best to produce at less cost. The producers, hoped to succeed.in.that, and they intended to hold on to the trade.