Hemp Millers Meeting.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 25 March 1890, Page 2

Hemp Millers Meeting.

A general meeting of the Hemp Miller's Association was held at McMillan's old building on Monday the 24th at 10.30 a.m. Pjesi^nirrMi - . Chairman, and Messrs T. P. WHfiam3, B. B. McKenzie, Gv£ottß; T>;% Guthrie, E. Osborne. E. D. DSvie«; T. iaiicl, J. Russell, Thome, Gifford, Collins, Carter, and Davidson. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. : Mr Gardner said— l have nbj^ much to report, though much has been done. The passing of the rule* forms the chief business of the day. Tha greatest importance would be of a rise in the price of flax. I think that the neoessity 19 working a. cure. The fall has been occasioned by the in* creased output. I believe it to be only a temporary reaction. Another reason for the fall, is that we have been pretty well in the hands of a Syndicate. We have heard that a syndicate had been formed to buy up all the 1889 crop. Very little of N Z. Hemp was known in America then Wrote to my agents and heard that it was little known and dependence placed on sisal. The sisal was all bought up by the syndicate We unfortunately sent our flax to America, whioh wan bought tip, ro that we have been tj a great extent a* the m°rey of this syndicate. Outsiders, not parties to this combination, were obliged to go to the London market and compete with the whole world and thus ran up the market. The harvest of 1889 being over, the Americans are " bulling " the market now, and having 3 months stocks on hand are throwing it on the market, thus reducing prices. They have now arranged to have only one buyer. I believe that they have agents here which are buying at a very low price, and I have heard some millers are selling at £14 which is unfortunate as it is not enough to cover the risks ft miller runs It would be a blessing if those who would sell at £14 would shut up for a time, until larger orders' come out, and thus enables the miller to get a better price. Tour association empoworedyour chairman to meet the Chamber of Commerce. Little resulted except a statement that they an willing to assist the millers all they could. One matter on which the Government should be approached is to gat them to obtain better machinery. Until we get a machine which scrapes we shall not get perfect flax. The Chamber suggested a too elaborate system of grading flax, but I hardly think it workable. Our member for Foston has been taking considerable interest in flax, and he has arranged a date for the association to meet Sir Harry Atkinson at Palmerston. It will be for you to appoint a committee to meet him. In answer to a question Mr Gardner said it was the N. Z. Loan & M. A. Co. who stated they were buying at from £14 to £17 a ton. It was for us to protect ourselveß. The Loan Co. has commissions to buy for America. Mr Guthrie said that the Rangitikei branch desired to see the flax owners to be eligible for membership. He moved that as an amendment to rule 3 the following words " flax growers " be edded. Mr Davidson seconded it. Mr McKenzie spoke in favour of the amendment. Carried. Mr McKenzie proposed an addition to rule 3 of the words, written authority. Mr Carter seconded it. Carried. Mr McKenzie proposed and Mr Davidson seconded — That in the event of any question arising in the foregoing rules the com. mittee shall have power to act. Carried. The other rules were gone through carefully and after a few minor alterations were paased. Mr McKenzie moved that the Chairman, Mr Potta, W. G. Robinson, Russell and the mover be a deputation to meet the Premier at Palmerston. Mr Guthrie seconded it: Carried. Mr MeKenzie proposed and Mr Carter seconded -That in order to keep the flax industry alive it is'abaolutely necessary to make all reductions possible and euch reductions should be made on royalty, freights, wages, machinery and other charges. Carried. Mr Guthrie moved that in the opinion of the Association a fair and reasonable royalty at the present time on green flax is one shilling and sixpence a ton. Mr Bui-. I sell seconded. Mr Collins moved as an amendment, and Mr OBborne seconded — That one shilling a ton is the maximum royalty that we can afford to pay at the present time. Amendment carried. It was ordered that these resolutions be sent to the flax owners. '