FLAX INDUSTRY

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 23, 28 January 1938, Page 5

FLAX INDUSTRY

ORGANISATION PLAN

COMMITTEE APPOINTED

PROPOSALS STATED

c Steps for the organisation of the fla in industry are outlined in the Gazett as t published last night, and the per ne sonnel of a special committee, whic ia t is to: carry out the plan«in accordanc \y_ with the Industrial Efficiency Act, i ■sh announced. ti- The committee, which is to be know go as the Flax Plan Industrial Commit of tee, is as follows:— Mr. E., J. Fawcett, technical liaiso: ed officer. Department of Agriculture ■re Wellington. in Mr. F. Johnson, assistant secretarj id. Department of Industries ani :et " Commerce, Wellington, in- Mr. A. H. Long, farmer, Kaingaro:i lat Auckland, as Mr. S. H. Maddren, rope and twini manufacturer, Christchurch. : Dr. E. Marsden, secretary, Dopartmen of Scientific and Industrial Re °V . search, Wellington. ■ 11 Mr. L. A. Niederer, flaxmiller, South ry land. :a* Mr. H. H. Podmore, flaxmill worker ln Foxton. ne Mr: P. T. Robinson, clerk, Palmerstor id North. W Mr. B. B. Wood, merchant, Christ--2d • church. Ie- Regulations were also gazetted lasl it, evening for the purpose of enforcing ;i> the provisions of and effectively carryin ing out the plan* It is stated that the ie material provisions of the' plan have -s, been submitted to and approved bj >y a majority of the persons engaged as cL principals in the flax industry, as well a- as by persons employing a majority al of the workers engaged in the incjusut try." The regulations define the funcal tions and powers 'of the special cornis- ruittee. ld RATE OF SUBSIDY. The committee will from time ,tc y- lime recommend to the Bureau oi 3e Industry for submission to, the Mm'- " ister of Industries and Commerce, the t0 rate of subsidy, if any, to be paid by t0 the Government on hemp exported le from New Zealand. Any such . subin> sidy, after approval by the Minister i- and subject to appropriationv by Par>n liament, shall;-enure for a period oi 3- five years, and may be renewed. Howte ever, any such subsidy can be reviewed f- within the five-year period,, and be ■it adjusted from time to time, such adT justmeJnt to have regard to the cost of ie production of reasonably efficient mills it and a reasonable __ margin of profit, is and to market .prices for hemp exported from- New Zealand. On being requested to do so by the bureau, the committee is to make a recommendations on all applications :s referred to'it by the bureau for lr licences which may be required under 10 the Industrial Efficiency Act in reV spect of the flax industry or any t> branch thereof. d Every miller shall keep and rcguJ- lc.rly and promptly make up and enter, 1- either at the mill or at some other is convenient place to be notified by >f him to the committee, such books pi c accounts, invoices, and other docud ments of his fiaxmilling business as are f- usually kept by persons employed in h he? like business, and such other books, ►f documents.' and records as the com'f mittee may notify or may in any case h by notice to the miller require. Every ?> miller* shall at all reasonable times ■f permit-all sJch.books, documents, and' i recbrds to be inspected by any officer of the committee, and shall, whenever •- .requested, supply to the committee 0: such.sinformation as it may require in t connection with his business. The c committee may from time to time al V its discretion require any person other s than a miller selling or otherwise deal- •- ing in flax -of phormium products to t observe'any one or more of the rer quirements of this regulation. ADVISORY SERVICE. [' The committee will, as soon as posl sible, make recommendations to the bureau with a view to the immediate \ establishment, through the Department of.Agriculture, pf an advisory Service , for flaxmillers, such service being de- " signed tc make available to flaxmillers the most up-to-date information in regard to improvements in the methods ' and machinery used in the processing £ of-phormium fibres, l From time to time the committee i will take into consideration" the ad- : visability of giving financial assistance - with respect to the development and improvement of lands used or to be used for the cultivation of flax and the erection of buildings and acquisi- | tion of plant and materials to be used in connection with the growing of flax or production of phormium products. If, in the opinion of the committee, it is desirable that assistance should be given, it shall make a recommendation to that effect to the bureau, and shall set out in its recommendation the nature and extent of the assistance recommended and the grounds 'of the recommendation. MARKETING POWERS. The committee is to be responsible to the bureau for the efficient organisation in the interests of the industry of the marketing of phormium products in New. Zealand and overseas, whether or'not'such products have been acquired on behalf of the committee. ', It may make such arrangements or such, recommendations, to the bureau for necessary 'authority as it thinks proper, for the efficient organisation of marketing, and in particular for the following matters: (a) For the handling, pooling, -disposal, transport, and storage of any phormium products; (b) for the shipment of any phormium productsl that are inttnded for export; on such terms and in such quantities js the committee think fit; (c) for the insurance against loss of any such phormium products; (d) for the production or standard specifications governing any process or products involved in flax-manufac-ture, and in particular for such grading" to standards as may be deemed necessary by appropriate committees of the New Zealand Standards Institute; (c)' generally for'all such matters as, are necessary to ensure adequate supplies of suitable grades of phormium products as ; required in various markets. ■';'',. The committee is to consider what action can be. taken:to deevlop the domestic manufacture of textiles, cordage, and like materials from flax in such manner as may be\necessary to 'ensure a maximum economic consumption of phormium products in New Zealand. DOMESTIC SUPPLY. ' As occasion warrants, the committee will make recommendations to the bureau for submission to the Minister as to any Government. protection deemed to be necessary for the develI opment of the domestic textile industry, indicating whether such protection should be given by means of restricting importations of raw or manufactured phormium products or in any other manner. The committee from time to time will consider* the rate of royalties payable for flax supplied to mills, and mayv make such recommendations to the bureau as to control of royalties as it considers desirable in the,interests of the industry. ■ It is to establish and maintain in consultation with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research a properly;, staffed and equipped research