Hemp Millers Meeting

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, 25 February 1890, Page 2

Hemp Millers Meeting

.On^.Saturdsy . .ttyynrig.. a very large meeting of hemp-millers and 'Jidse Interested in the industry was held ait the Pubftc Hall, Foxtou. ' Among those present we notioed Messrs R. • Gardner, Carter. Avfke^e, Davis, R. McKenzie, Austin, BeaTlnve. Tennanfc^M^fintijV-Bnchl^ B, -Walden, B. Sijelman^ Rogers, &{&•*»•. J. ;W^lderi, E. Osbdfne,' " f anfo, G. Gray, .jß.red.ow,- Boyle, F>. Wpstwood. Fo'rdj T. -W.setwood- J. R. McMillan<'J. --Russei!, ,-T. Lind, F. Jenks,. T. P.WiJliam^.lV.^.. Robinson, Collins, ' H. F. Davidson, J . Gj'eig, MtraVo, .7. Brftdoock,. and Messrs. jNiyen and Steel; ■ : "*'.',' \ y ] . ' „}h .Thynne was.votsd trwAhV chair,, antt 1 'in open^ig '.the meeting. .conjsv^u'Ja'fefl f"*te' mjy^r* on &b. last, perceiyinc. the adv&nY tages of corabinatioD.' : He -tfegrfftted" the fall in the nTarket, but pointed out tha'; if LJi,oj}.b seemvd their taking- more interest in their manufacture, it wa!?.l)ound to result in their .advantage. He misted that they would look upon the business of dres sing the flax as- one of colonial importance, which need not be fettered by, -feat" of a neighbour turning out a. superior article, as there was a very targe market for them .alLand the better (ach dveseed the fibre, the bett°r for the -district He trusted then that by meeting together they j would do 'their best to assist one another, in, suggestipns for the improvement ofy the quality and the reduction in ilp cost!_ He would call on Mr Gardner "»to ppeabr! first.

Mr Gardner rising said — I am fully impressed with the benefit of- 'meeting together. 1 come with the hope of gaining information as weli as giving some. About 12 months ago we met under diffprent circumstances, we then had hopes .of bi# fortune?, now we are not so confident. We have found tV>e expenses have exceeded our first idea. We have the dull fact that ♦here is not n. buyer of our K. Z. Flax in the colony. One of the largest buyers told me there was not an order just now for" flax. I contend however that the advances that may be got may be sufficient if we are careful. I would like to try and find out what has brought abont this crisis. We must bear in mind that the flax formed one of tbe thr.-e branches of th^'stap'e fibre. Formerly tlte eonsump* tion of nil fibre was 120,000 tons-, at the beginning of last year there was consumed of Manilla B2 T OOO tons, of Sisal 40.000 tons, thus these two fibres supplied the demand The demand from the yaar 1881 began to grow, but the small amount of flax in 1888 was only 1500 tons against' the 120,000 ton<» imported which was <?p trifling as not to affect the market. America last year required 60,000 tons of fibre for their trade and nn American ring, shot Manilla np froiV£3o to'£f>o a ton. Those who used this fibre owin-» to this rise looked. for other fibres, and in New Zealand we took "dvantage of the demand and last year 7000 or 8000 tons^ went to. .London. : -vThe world began to think there was no. limit, to our export. In consequence the ; ,N. Z, Flax was looked on as a competitor to Manilh., and therefore rose. We have now to face competition with both Manilla and Sisal. I was told that the speculators in America ha 4 shaken -hands' ''"tbg'etHer and had determined to let. Max- 'have- its way. There is. now being sent more .fibre- 'to the London market from all parts, Qf the world than formerly and that is why it has become reduced in value. So soon as, our flax reaches the quality of Manilla' a*nd Sisal bo soon will the. .price, rise-. Tire Merchants thought they had a .^ood. thing in buying flax at £18 here, wlien it "was scaling in London at £35 a ton. The co".;---suinera have now a larger quantity to' choose from now. They therefore say fair average quality is not the Fameno.w. as previously. The Home people say 'hat local merchants had not been particular, enough in buying, and the Home merchants must have lost eeriously I. know; it myBe'f, I bought at £16 to £17 10s and sold under f.a q, and c.i.f terms and the party to whom I sold it refused to take it, and in some caees I had £7 a ton taken off.' I sold at £30, take £7 off, . it left •me only £23 and as it cost me £9 expenses . and I paid £16 and £17 10s for it I received £23 for what had cost me £25 to £26 10s. None of the Wellington;, merchants' have bought except as agents So great has" this scare b"eome ♦hat I visited 'he Wellington sheds with some of the me-c^ants and. l saw 2000 bales which they, said yon ceuld not pick 200 eood b les. from." I told them I looked on two thirds of. the lot as good. How are we going to moet this .difficulty? I have heard it said that some had had on offer of LlO a ton advarice on the flax. I make the cost of dressing it at Lls 39. If these figures ire right, it. shows 'hit the advance of LlO is going to run us into ruin. This is one of the facts we have to take into consideration I have' been assurod that we can get Ll4 adva.DCo-.if we get the equality right. One of fh'e circumRtances against producing good flax is bad water, relieve that .colour has more to dp with the successful sale of flax in London than strength. *Tfe\g we might discuss' publicly, the. cost privately. I should like to state' that the manufacture. of flax, rejiujr.es particular care in every department. We must ha\e thexight green blade, some are 'sorting the sizes, ana I feel sure it •woftld be 'well, but I have not . tried Jt., One rilitl' strips the outer edges* off. T*oday we tripdstripping the edges but I do not think it worth while, with oui»long flax, it would, I fee.l certain, with short flax...<> The stripping requires ;sflre. Then comes steeping— l have beorranxious to try steeping.' T have- 3 tanks' Js ; T long, 5 feet wide, and-4 feet; -deep. • We i- let the mornings work steepi-v these viftts till diuner '*me{" and then take^ them psH;and:let them drip. By so "doirig'we have, gqt rid of a great deal of the re'lnes*-. • The^\yater is always running »hrough the tanks. We can take this flax from th-» lrej^fi ddvs earlier th^n by any otlier dressing" $his plan is done in Auckland ('and ' Cariterbnry and we know that -they 'turn'out' tfie best fibre. It is absolutely noceasary th t every one should give information! to ;bne anothei 1 . The present , system .of; •, stripping wjll have to be inipioVf d. The 'question is, is our flax deserving of its ".bad name? I have seenbalas opensd-." rtd hanks when rub : ed betwi'eq. th j han/Fgoir>io powder. There is bad fl x poing . into the jii.-.rket. I have heard that people have watered 'he flax . I elievmg' l it would soften i*. This is very wrong ? though not irftentionally c:imina%. AVtong» ' I" have seea tow taken ous of, the cen.tr*!<Jf flax biles. Bales haVe bp n opened, the outside of the |.ba^e 'showing trie'"hanks nice, inside, rough ausoutched flax. Until We ar« perfectly hn«"»t oM»^fts T^il! Dot him h

Chi Thursday a gentlemen sent a cable to JjCfnion " Flat what prospects ". The re. ply recefvcd was " fairly good." There appears to be nothing alarming in the price at home. Before sitting down I will move a very general resolution viz. " That all here interested in Sax milling shall do their : utmost to produce ortly dressed flax ot first rate .quality, (applause)!. This- being seconded by lit Arfstid was put by {He 1 «JmmY when; Sir Stuart said, I endorse a great dtmt ot thfl ramarfcs ntade by Mr Gardner. Ther6 tr«s when I was in Wellington a deal of bad flax in the shedi. Mr Russell asked Mr Gardner to explain what the cables meant by saying that Khere . was a fair trade demand for common and f 'Sir quality, though no mention was mad* \ about &c best dressed, yet we were always beini* impressed with the necessity of improving the qualify* Mr. Carter thought (be trade circular explained it.'.. MrOardner said— lt is a difficult quiet- -■' tion and" ih'o Gnawer could only be surmised. • I should say ihat what before was cpn- : eideretf superior flat \* ntow only considered U^our standard h»re rwen ; or it may •be rhtft Our flax is used wfffa Manilla ana and that tb!e flax nearest to the colour of manilla will ht t-i'at in moat • demand. . The resoultion then feeing pui WM carried unanimously. Mr Russell then moved that fc» mwtinj orflaxmillersas oringinally called, U now held, to discusß matters of vital int«**rt ta . the trade:" Mr McMillan seconded. This was put to (He meeting without further discussion and was carried.The chairmau Ulflit' fljgfced those wjao>w«» - : not hemp millers to retire; . „.." HEMP MILLERS ifUKfTKa'* . 'i ' . * At the. wish of the meeting Mr lavaae still refined the chair. ' Mr R. llckehXia then rose and sauf<— l will move, that a Hemjf-'Miliers Association be formed. I was much faferested in MiGardner's remarks, but much surprised at the resolution moved by him* Aftej* the information given by Mr Gardner It' ra not necessary to say what has caused the »««re. I believe the Wellington merchants are not prepared to buy at all. The. first dnty of - the association should be tb assist one another to prepare tht fibre at a payable price. There mast be an all roand reduction but it cannot be expettod that labour should stand it all. The owflerH of green flax must take less for the flax. Wh«n they first Xt irted they sold at 1, - a ton and now it haa risen to 7.'- a ton a difference of 1/ton in green makes 11- ton on the dresM*! flax. I am prepared, as a flax owner, to* make such a reduction. I think others will do the same. In our district we could go and take firewood for nothing and when flax started, they charged l/» a cord now they charge 2.6 per cord. The charges for coal as delivered in Foxton is 22/6 to* m Rangitikei it is 30/-, and this seems an unfair charge in our case. One man attempting to bring down'charges would fait. In carriage and freights some reduction should be made. This is' only what an Association can do. From Foxton freight! are 15 - a ton from Rangitikei 20/- a ton. Then the freights fnm Wellington to London, have been raised 20/-. It is a matter for shipping companies to consider. I know the m*>u are willing to' take a reduction. There has been nothing like the flax industry, to circulate such a large sum of mon^y. Mr Williams— l desire that those present should subscribe a euinea towards the expenses. We liud that our flax goes tt Wellington looking very nice, then tumbled • into a dirty shed and is then dumped. It looks very different in London. A» to .frights, ias mowr now the wool season is over, the cos-, might tbe reduced 20/- a ton. Mr Gardn-r — Although I cannot sympathise with the question of royalties as I have my own flax,, yet no f - doubt some reduction should be made. Mr Gardner was proceeding to make some statements as to his expenses, when it was suggested that those willing to take part should signify the same by subscribing half a guinea The resolution of Mr McKenzie's having , been seconded by Birchley [was put to the meeting and carried, and then the following : agreement was made and the fees paid. We the undersigned hemp-millers hereby agree to pay at once, on demand, the buiu c f ten shillings a:-" 1 , sixpence, to the chairman as 'our first subscription to the proposed Hemr-Millers Association. ; Robert -Gardner, IPaiaka Mill ; . John Carter, Moutoa ; Thomas Lind, Lind's ; Sutton & Co, Okaua ; T. P. Williams A Co, Foxton ; Coe Jenks, & Co, Herriagton ; E. D. Davies for A. P. Seymour, Wivokino; B. Spellmau, Oroua ; Booth McDonald & Co, Eclipse; Walden Brothers, Moutoa ; R. B. McKenzie Awamate ; Stuart Sutton A Co, Taikorea ; Jones and Rogers, Atiki ; Birohley & Co, Soho ; Gifford Pike 4 Co. Carlyle ; Bredow Yanko * Co, Parawsnui Mill ; Bradcock and Messina, Weatwood Bull & Co, Paparata ; Austin andJDearlove, Dunk and Hollins, Bainesse : Russell «fc Co, Papakiri ; James Tonnant, Osbortia Gieeen <i- Co, Empress. .> t .. . Mr Gardner then gave some very interest-, ing figures as to the cost he had previonsly been put to in preparing dressed flax and t * the reductions he h.d been enabled to - make. ' •. ■ , t Mr Walden explained the cost of dftofeiagV ' as his- firm worked. Mr Lind then proposed and Mr' Carter seconded. "'>"'' <*V* That Mr R. Gardner be chairman, of ibjt, Aespciatiou. This was carried with ap» plause. ■ v •■•> Mr Gardner proposed and Mr Austin ' seconded — ". That a committee of ten mem-> bers, consisting of Messrs^Carter, Williams, Davidson, Russell, McKenzie, Lind, Jenks, " McMillan, Collins and W. G. Robioson, be formed. Carried. It | was resolved that the quorum of tht committee be five.' ' . ■ It whs proposed by Mr McKenzie and seconded by Mr Russell. That other millers be. invited to join the ' Association on the same termß, and -all • ; here pledge themselves to obtain members. Carried. A vote of thanks to Mr Gardner and the 'Ohair concluded the business. . , COMMITTKK JOJETINO. ,■ / The C6ramittde ; then met, and elected Mr W.Gv Robinson, Secretary. . The account was agreed "to be kept at the Bank , of Australasia, and. cheques ' tobe signed by the Chairman and Secretary ■: '■