THE CORNER TURNED.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1416, 17 April 1912, Page 4

THE CORNER TURNED.

OFriMISTIC FLAX MILLERS. • (By 'Tclejraph.-Presß Association.) . Palmerston, April 16. A complimentary luncheon was given at the Koyal Hotel to-day by members of tho New Zealand 'Flax Millers' Association to Mr. J. Liggins, ex-president, who Is leaving for Europe and Amcricn, with a view to inducing scientists- to take ■ up tho question of improving tlnx processes, in view of the .£12,000 bonus offered by the Government.- ' Mr. Alfred Selfert, who presided, and other speakers referred to the sound position of the industry here,'in consequence of improvements effected in machinery during the last four or five years, without which they could not have carried on 'at current prices and paid the current wages. Improved machinery, however, had enabled them to pay the improved wages, and still keep the industry sound. Mr. Mabin (of the firm of Messrs. Levin and Co., Wellington) said that there was every reason to believe thnt the industry here had "turned the corner," thanks to the brains o£ those concerned in it, while in Auckland mid Inrercargill it had snulfcd out. There was everv reason to believe that they were in for a period of improved prices' on a sound basis. * :

Mr. 11. Scott (of Messrs. Scott, .\iven, fliid Co.) suid tluil lie hnd, for a considerable time, been experimenting with si view to improving lln.t machinery, but liail' found it-almost impossible to ge.t away from tiie idea of the machinery wbirli lind been in use. "When 'they applied to the world's scientists ho' was satisfied that any improvement effected must be on principles directly opposed to those at present in vogue. Mr. Ijigghis, who expressed the- gratitude of the flax millers nnd all concerned in the industry to the Premier (Hon. 'I'. Mackenzie) for liis assistance in getting the ,£12,000 bonus, said that 'inquiries regarding it had been received from such widely-separated places a< Madras, Berlin. (Inniuln. the ITiiireil Slntes-, Mexico, and Germany, where scientist" wore already interested. Ue hoped to interest the lending scientists personally, nnd hoped that sonic ne«' process might he discovered to prepare the fibre for textile li'rcs.