FLAX REGULATIONS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2126, 8 July 1907, Page 1

FLAX REGULATIONS.

A representative of the Auckland otar had a cliat recently with a wellxiioivn Southern flax-miller, regard.ag the new regulations which come >nto force next September. “1 object - entirely,” lie said, to the proposal to alter the name from New /eala'ud hemp to nliormium fibre. N.Z. liomp’ is a good advertisement for the colony, just as ‘Manila liemp’ .s for that place. To call it plioraiiim fibre lias nothing dictinctive as associating it with this colony. Then

here is another reason why 1 think e should stick to the name of N.Z. emp. You know our flax is now be-

.ng planted ill Australia and elsewhere. Why, the Government even lent its chief fibre expert, Mr. Fulton, to teach the people of that island how to grow and prepare the dax. Now .you see, if it is called •pliormiuin fibre’ on the market, New Zealand gets no advertisement, but .nay have to carry the blame of poor-ly-grown fibre from other countries, because the flax may not succeed well in a new country. For many reasons 1 think it preferable that it should in; called N.Z. hemp. “Are there other regulations to which you object?” “Well, there is the question of biudiii" the bales with fibre instead of tow. You people in Auckland use the fibre, but i n the South we use tow, which is much cheaper.” “AYhat do you think of our hemp?” asked the reporter, the conversation being in the flax store, Quay street. “There is a lot of stuff condemned b\ the grader, which only requires proper treatment to make good fibre. Take this sample, for instance (pointing to a hank), it shows bad scutching Now, if you start that way, vou cannot turn out good fibre. Tlie

whole secret of milling llax is to start it well. That is one of the troubles of the flax trade. • The other dangers are cutting the leaf in the winter, which I consider had business, although they think it no harm up here. My experience convinces me that it does not pay in the end to cut- flax in winter. I need hardly add that the next thing of importance is never to hitJJIC-Ca.tilo-gpt-'x*.-