FLAX MANUFACTURE.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2229, 20 April 1881, Page 2

FLAX MANUFACTURE.

A writer in the “ European Mail ” gays : At one time the Pbormium Tenax of New Zealand promised to become a profitable and paying industry, but of late years I have heard very little about it. Surely, with the aid of suitable machinery, this flax might bo turned to profitable account. If I mistake not, there was shown ot the Melbourne Exhibition a "a ruffer hackle,” which would ruffle the tenax down to a texture almost SB fine as the human hair. If this can bo done, then I feel certain that the flax under notice might be exported with considerable profit to those who care to engage in the trade. I notice that a Phormium Tenax Company has just been announced. The board consists of two English gentlemen and two Portuguese, and one of the latter is stated to be the holder of a concession from his Government of a monopoly for the manufacture of this article throughout Portugal and all Portugese possessions, which concession the company are to buy of him for £15,000 in shares, being one-half of the nominal capital of the company, the vendor agreeing not to receive any dividend until the other 15,000 shares shall have received 6 per cent. The plant is said to grow luxuriously and spontaneously in the whole of the Azores group o£ islands, and an almost unlimited quantity can alwayt be obtained, the long thin part of the loaf being used for the manufacture of cordage, and the thicker portions of the stalk being converted into pulp for paper-making, and it is estimated that the fibre, which is worth £25 per ton in London, and the pulp £2O, can ha manufactured and delivered here free of all charges at a mean price of £l7 per ton. It is suggested that the supply of esparto grass is gradually being exhausted, and that by-and-by this will become au important branch of trade, situate, as the scene of production is, within five days’ steam of England. Fifteen thousand pounds, however, seems a very small amount to come to the London market for, especially as we are told that “ a large proportion ” of that amount will be taken up in Portugal. There is one important fact that we are not told anything about, and that is whether this concession is terminable at any particular period or is hold iu perpetuity, and with or without royalties or other drawbacks. Kow, as the Pbormium tenax is more prolific in Kew Zealand than in Portugal, I should like to hear of some English capitalists paying a visit to New Zealand, with a view to turning that industry to profitable account.