Flaxmillers' Association.

Manawatu Herald, 3 October 1893, Page 2

Flaxmillers' Association.

— + A meeting of the above was held at the Commercial Hotel on Saturday last. Present — Messrs Bobt. Gard--ner (President), Gledhill, Pascal,; Austin, Dalton, Dudson, and Harris (secretary). ' . ' - Correspondence was read from the Wellington agents of the in reference tip the ; dull 'Bfattie I Vof the trade, and from the, iAiiociaiiion's . grader, in reference to his *$tities. C The Chairman stated r that the membership list of the Afiflfooiatibn continued to grow .and ; satWaotory progress was being made in releVenoe td the objecta for: which, the r»feir had been established. With rigard to the discouraging condition of? Ehe flax market, he thought it wjas almost entirely due to the state of trade generally in the United'States, and to the fact that money was hot available there in the manner it usually was. He had seen a letter from a firm of merchants in which it was stated that accommodation was very difficult to get, and bankers would not cash cheques for larger amounts than fifty dollars. In Son versation with Mr John Bryce tlje . other day that gentlemamtad slated? that it reminded him of the early* days of the colony when all sorts of expedients had to be adopted to militate the incon^ejjiegce^flrrV scarcity of currency. ' !fnere^jwhr every reason to hope for improve* ment, as they knew that the harvest had been a good one, and that meant increased consumption of the/ fibre.. He had no doubt that the depression ' in prices wag only temporary. - • Mr Pascal asked if there was any" information . avjwlable J&ji to the stocks of unsold fibre' on in London and America. He understood that it was one of the duties of their agents to keep the Executive acquainted with those facts, for otherwise ifc would be impossible for millers to judge whether they were acting prudently in closing down or keeping on turning out the fibre. Even if prices were low at the pre<

sent time it would not be prudent to stop manufacturing when the foreign markets were perhaps quite bare of fibre. If they all closed down, and isome Weeks later ad order had to be placed for several hundred tons wanted in a hurry it would be impossible to Carry it out under ft Month. Mr Harris replied that the Executive had asked the agents to obtain that information, and he had also, mentioned the subject to -Mr Pirani and that gentleman had interviewed the Industrial Department and got a promise that an effort would be made to obtain monthly the particulars of stocks of fibre held in the TJnited States; As far as he Was personally concerned he had kept his mill going through the winter in the hope that the usual revival in prices would take place in August, with the result that he had a large stock afloat and a shed full of fibre, without any pros pect of a rise before him, and he had been forced to discontinue operations. He thought it would be a good idea for the Association to charter a vessel at low freights and have her taken to a point on the voyage home where instructions could be given by telegraph to proceed to the most desirable market. The Chairman thought those who could afford the risk and thought it wise to do so, could go on manufacturing, but in many cases it would be best to shut down. Mr Pascal moved and Mr Austin seconded, That the agent be requested to ascertain monthly the stocks of fibre on hand in Boston, New York and London. — Carried unanimously. The Chairman suggested that it would be as well to instruct the agents in selling fibre iu the American markets to quote for " superior Wellington " instead of " g.f.a.q " as at present. He remarked that fibre bought on the latter basis in Wellington had been sold in America aa superior Wellington, and the millers lost several pounds a ton in consequence. The suggestion was embodied in the form of a resolution and adopted. On Mr Austin's motion the number of the Executive was increased from five to seven to enable Wairarapa and Marlborongh to be represented, and the millers in those ! districts are to be asked to select suitable representatives. Mr Harris suggested that the thanks of the association be tendered to Government for the vote for improved machinery placed on the estimates, and to suggest that it be increased to £5,000. He said that the l'eason why he had. suggested that the vote on the estimates was not sufficient was that he had some experience in experimenting in the direotion proposed, and ifc was very expensive indeed, in fact during the short time he was at it the cost amouuted to £25 per week. Besides it w^fe very necessary to get inventors froni' .all -parts, of the -worlds to compete, and it was hardly likely they would study the different phases of their experiments on the spot unless the reward was ample to repay them for their outlay as well as the trouble they had gone to. That there was room for improve* ment in the appliances used there could be no doubt, for flax contained 28 per cent, of fibre, while only about 18 per cent, was utilised, and sisal only contained 3 per cent, of fibre, but in the manufacture of the latter labor could be obtained for 2s pe? day. Eventually it was decided that the Flaxmillers' Association thank the Ministry for the proposed bonus to further develop the flax industry, and would lespectfully request that it be increased to £5000, with a view to inducing investors to compete from all parts of the world, and to increase the output of this important staple, of which 90 percent, of its value is expended in labor. A discussion ensued on the desirabiliff of Mr Haycock being engaged at a subsidy of £150 to instruct the millers in the best method of utilising the waste products of the flax, the general opinion being that it would 1 be better if he were engaged to conduct experiments himself under the supervision of some one competent to report on the results. On. the motion of Mr Austin, it was resolved that the Government be asked to allow the £150 subsidy to Mr Haycock to be spent in ex* V- periments by that gentleman under the supervision of the Flaxmillers' Association, after he has satisfied the-ABsooiStion that there is some* hingto justify the experiments. Tni Chairman directed attention to the fact that a delegate from Utgada was about to visit (he colony imihe interests of direct steam com- * munication with that country, and moved, That the attention of Government be directed to the posssibility of opening up a direct trade with, Canada, and that advantage mig^it be taken of the presence of r the' Canadian delegate in New Zealand t<g ascertain whether .arrange* merits might not be made for the export of flax by that route. MTPascal said they must not lose sight of the fact that London was. thebest market in the world", although he thought no harm could result from endeavouring to ascertain jfche most feasible places to export, to. j

• The motion was carried unani* mously. On the motion of Mr Pascal, it was decided to ask the Association's agents it any reduction could be obtained in the rate of freight on flaX to London. Mr Harris-brought up an ingenious j suggestion for grading flax by points, and after some discussion the matter was referred to a committee consisting of Messrs Gardner, Harris and Dudson, who are to report to next meeting. The meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the Chairman. — Stowlant .