CULTURE OF FLAX.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2267, 12 August 1870, Page 2

CULTURE OF FLAX.

The following application for state aid in the culture of flax has been presented to the General Government:— MHMORANDI-Jt Taking into consideration that the Legis lature lias been asked, and will probably grant, a large sum of money to aid in the production of gold, it is thought that the present is an opportune moment for seeking Legisla'ive aid in the production of flax, and of manufacturing the same in the Colony. 1. The cost of delivery of flax at any port in the Colony may be assumed tq be Ll6 per ton. 2. The cost of freight, insurance, and merchants’ commission on both sides, without the cost of manufacture, may be stated to amount to at least L 0 per ton, or say more than (50 per cent on its prime cost. 3. The va'ue of articles manufactured from flax imported into the Colony from Great Britain annually may be stated, from Customs returns, at Lj23,()1)0, the whole or grerter portion of which might he manufactured in New Zealand. 4. To do so, however, requires the erection of machinery, and possibly the introduction apd employment of skilled labor from other countries—for both <4 which objects considerable capital is required, but which, under the existing circumstances of the Colony, is not available from private; resources. 3. The raw material is growing almost over every portion of the Colony, and is not coufiued to any one section or Province. 6. Large sums of money have been already invested in machines for preparing flax for shipment, but the heavy cost of carriage to Europe, with merchants’ and agents’ charges, coupled with the competition caused by the existing vested interests in England in the trade, and vast capital embarked in Russian and Manilla hemp and flax, render it uuremunerative in its unmanufactured state, and will continue to do so. 7. It is assumed that the expenses above referred to—about Lll per ton on an average —would he about the cost of manufacturing the flax into rope, canvas, woolpacks, bags, mats, Ac, which, when manufactured, would ho worth from L4O tq LGO per ton, or near 300 per cent, on the cost of the raw material, and a largo market for these articles is open in Australia and elsewhere, and a good profit may be made by sending to England, and probably to America. Having this data before us, it is thought an application may reasonably be made to the Legislature for its assistance, by asking that a vote of money may be placed at the disposal of the Executive Government, to be lent to companies or individuals at a low rite of interest, for the purpose of erecting the necessary mills and machinery for manufacturing flax throughout the Colony. Such sums of money should only be allowed to persons or companies who have already invested capital cither in flax, land, or mills, or who are in a position to satisfy the Government of their ability, and can give satisfactory guarantees that they .arc in a position to carry on those manufactories It is believed that in almost every part of the colony, and more particularly in some of the smaller provinces, a measure of this description would be .productive of the most beneficial and immediate results. It would give rise to the importation and employment of skilled labor, and would doubtless attract persons with capital to the country, who would do well as soon as it beea i e known that such inducements were offered by the Legislature. Quantity and value of the undermentioned articles as cleared at the Customs for New Zealand consumption during the year 1869, all of which may be made from New Zealand flax, will at once show the importance of aiding and fostering the nronnfonfm'n of f.llP Rfllllft.

manulacturc oi riie j Packages Value. Bags and sacks 4410 . £ 4,788 Ex Warehorise 473 . . . ■ — Canvas 301 . . 14,315 Cordage 5172 . . 20,302 Scrim cloth 177 . . 3,935 Ex Warehouse 37 . — Paperhanginas ....... 1207 .. . 12,612 Paper, wrapping and bags — . . 9,008 Paper, printing 1462 .. . 20,428 £145,44$