NEW ZEALAND FLAX IN AMERICA.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2709, 23 October 1871, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND FLAX IN AMERICA.

The following report, ai{dressed by Mr Vogel to the Chairman of the Flax Commis* siou, appears in the appendix to their report;

I beg to report the result of inquiries made in the United States respecting New Zea and flax, or Phormium trnax fibre. The inquiries hare been made during the intervals, necessarily not long, which could be spared from the main object of my visit to this country, namely, the settlement of the terms of the mail contract. It is therefore, not to be supposed that I am able to give anything like an exhaustive report upon the uses to which the Phormium tenax fibre is put, and the estimation in which it is held in America. The report must rather be regarded as a summary of information gained and not at all as approaching a full report on the subject. I may add, that for most of the information gained I am indebted ‘to the assiduity of Mr Fox. In California, as far as I avas able to judge, the flax seemed to be scarcely at all known. There, as well as elsewhere, it was found to be a difficulty that samples could not be shown, except those prepared by the natives, which were supplied to me through the native Department. In Chicago, nothing relating to the subject could be ascertained, but one gentleman ex. pressed to me the conviction that, if the ma. terial to be dealt with could be shown, there were machinists who could supply machines to do with it whatever could be done by hand.

In New York, the fibre is well known to rope-makers, dealers in flax, hj mp, &c. Samples were frequently produced, but as a rule they were not good. The fibre has been generally imported from England, but some dealers spoke of direct importation as within their knowledge. As a rule, the Now Zea* land fibre is considered here not fit to compete with average Manilla ; and samples of Sisal, of good quality, as well as various hemps, including some American grown, were during the inquiries shown by dealers as articles which would be preferred to the New Zealand flax for use with or as substitutes for Manilla.

The present sale price of Manilla is about 10 cents gold per lb. During the war, and even since its close, the price has ranged from 13 cents to 18 cents ; but that average was spoken of as “ altogether unhealthy,” and as preventing a free use of the fibre. Some years before the war, Manilla fetched no more than 5 cents, per lb., and an old practical ropemalfer expressed the opinion that for a steady market the fibre ought to be little if at all above C cents per lb. Reference to the price of Manilla was necessary, because every person who was consulted stated explicitly, or clearly implied, that that is the standard fibre for ropes, cords, &c., and that its price must rule the priies of any others introduced. At the same time, almost every person consulted spoke of the fluctuations in the price of Manilla, One of the samples of New Zealan 1 flax, prepared by natives of the Wellington province, was exhibited during the enquiries. Invariably, the fibre was most highly praised; and, without an exception, the reports declared that if such an article could be bad in quautHy> it would cert- inly realise, at any

time, as much as good Manilla. _ Amongst the opinions expressed were, “ It is the very best fibre I have ever seen “It ought, in time, to beat Manilla out of the market or, “It should compete with the best selected Manilla.” But, in the absence of enough of such fibre to tear, the market, no manufacturer or dealer would venture a more definite expression of opinion as to v due than that before stated. The representative of one large manufacturing firm (Messrs Tucker, Carter, and Co.) said that ne was most anxious to see such a fibre imported—that it was just what was wanted in the market; but he also said that if a bale of it was shown, the probable conclusion would he Sisal specially got up, and that nothin" but having a number of bales of the fibre on haml woulcl enable it to establish its position, and a reliable opinion as to value, &c., to be arrived at. The same gentleman said that lie had heard of whale lines having formerly been made of “ New Zea'and hemp,” but that, knowing the “ hemp” only as it had been imported during the last two years, he had simply laughed at the idea. The sample shown to him would be. he believed, be found to be excellently suited for whale lines and boat ropes—if the fibre would stand water. At the same warehouse, a bale of “ New Zealand hemp” nearly as good as the sample, was spoken of as having been “shown” amongst the trade not many months ago ; and though offered at 50s a cwt., it was stated not to have been sold. Further information as to this bale could not be obtained. An excellent sample of Sisal was stated to be at present worth, in the market, 9c. (gold) per lb ; and that, it was added, would certainly be an “outside price” for any lot of ordinary “ New Zealand hemp,” such as had hitherto been imported. All the opinioi.s before referred to -were based on the assumption that the fibre equal to the Native-prepared samples would be used only for rope and heavy cordage. But the sample was shown to a firm engaged in the manufacture of twines, cords, &c., (Messrs Hart and Co ), and their opinion was that a moderate constant supply would sell readily, if it could be hud for about 15 cents (currency) per lb. The practical head of a rope manufacturing establishment (Mr Marshall, of L. Canterbury and Co.), which was stated to be about the largest in the United States, showed the utmost possible interest in the subject. Aftea he had examined ihe sample, the same as showed in each case, he declared “This would make the very best rope known.” It would, he said, rank up to first-class Manilla, and be was sure that a responsible firm in New York could easily be found to contract to make 1000 tons yearly, if it could he put down in New York for 10 cents per lb (gold). A >ear ago, fibre equal to the sample would have fetched 13 cents, (gold). The twisting of the fibre into slim skeins was objected to as necessitating labour to undo tho twisting. The form in which the fibre should be sent out was stated to he in what is called “handf'L.” the end doubled so as to bale well and all the rest left loose. The price stated was conditional on the bulk being quite as good as the sample, and longer if pofsible. Machine-dressed •ew Zealand fibre (an average sample) was stated to bo worth, in the New York market, 8 cents (currency) per lb, duty paid. The recent fall in the price of New Zealand fibre was mentioned : and the gentleman referred to said he knew enough of the English market to feel absolutely sure that that fall did not result from any operations or combination of Jarge dealers in Manilla, but was the direct result t f very much of what was shipped from the Colony being Coarse and harsh and unclean —not at all fit to compete with Manilla. He expr ased a strong hope that the Government would not for a moment entertain the idea that the reduced price resulted from anything but “natural causes.” He also expressed a hope that ordinary discouragements would not check the production of the fibre. Dealers and manufacturers, he said, knew exactly what Manilla was, and what they could do with it; aud though such fibre as the native-dressed sample would certainly make better rope, the recognition of that fact would probably be slow. Until Manilla was substantially displaced, its price would rule the price of oth .r fibres. The various figures I have mentioned are given substantially as replies made to Mr Fox’s inquiries ; but I am of opinion that fibre such as that prepared by the natives might be used fur p.ther than purposes of r’ope.making, and so realise much more than ropemakers might be inclined to pay for it. Mr Brown, to whom reference is mafic subsequently, expr ssed the opinion that fibre such as the sample shown him would readily realise L7O per ton In conclusion 1 must express the opinion that it is an unfortunate error that we should have adopted the habit of .speaking of the Phormium temu fibre ai “flax.” '1 he term is apt to create misapprehension ; apd as regards America, the term tends to excite the opposition of flax-growers to a reduction of the duty, , Several large makers of rope have been asked respecting the manufacture of “White Hope.” In every ease, the reply has been that p obably what was meant was untarred rope of Russian hemp ; and in every case, also, it has been stated that there are not any peculiarities in the manufacture of that rope. “We turn it all of the same machine, whether tarred afterwards or not;” “There is nothing to tell you—rope-making is pretty much the same all the world ovorand “ it’s made like any other rope,” substantially represent the answers to questions as to the manufacture. Each manufacturer consulted that whale oil was used—“ just enough to make the hemp lay well.”