Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, JULY 11, 1891. Flax

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 11 July 1891, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, JULY 11, 1891. Flax

The apathy shown by both the past and present Governments in the flax industry is very surprising. A great deal has been said each year about the working man, but the industry which employs the most labour to prepare it for export, gets overlooked. Our member haß worried both Governments, and the nearest approach to interest shown by the Premier is his promise to write to Mr W. Courtney, of London, as to the conditions he would establish a manufactory of fabrics out of tow! It seems to have escaped attention, that Mr Courtney never proposed to establish any such industry, but purposed, had he been given any inducement by-. the Government, to have placed the advantages of such an industry before the manufacturers,

during his visih Home. It is pro bable that Mr Courtney may be out before he hears from the Government. There are around Foxton fourteen mills at work, with one stripper going, and the average amount paid direct in wages to the hands eraployed is £150 psr month. For other needs, the boarding of the men, horse feed and coals, another £100 is spent. The industry, in this small way, is equivalent to a gross expenditure of £42,000 a year, of which the men employed get £25,200. Is there any other employment equalling this? A waste growth is transposed into a valuable merchantable article, necessitating the largest outlay in its production, to be for the labour of men and lads. A little interest on the part of the Government would secure another stripper being set to work at each mill, thus producing another £25,000 to spend in wages for the unemployed. The permanent employment of one hundred men appear to be of little moment to their representatives.