Flax.

Manawatu Herald, 23 November 1893, Page 2

Flax.

i The market id ,l^ej|i»glion last week was still without. animation. There were no buyersf s Sji any price. On Saturday last ther;e Was a meeting of the Flaxniillers' Association i at Palraerston North, at- which the suggestions for the $erms on which X. the bonus for; the necessary/^iachine was to be given were discussed. The Government proposals were adopted, but £8000 was suggested : as the amount )_ f&rQaffc •frhproved 1 machine in tlie* hope "** that the ; difference could be put on the supplementary estimates, and that ' amount is little enough Ip set the* inventing brains of the wqrjiJexcited • over our wants. The. time tor receiving applications to be not later i than the 31st August, 1894. The i committee to decide to be elected : from. millers only the chief flax producing districts, the Chairman to be a Government nominee. Besides i paying the cost of bringing 1 compet- " iug machines from different parts of i the colony, that the cost of bringing the successful machines if from i beyond the colony be also paid and , that all machines so brought be admitted duty free. It is hoped tha

if the machine be a foreign one that it will be always admitted duty free. r Em£i r )QQ,, be. offered for a process of utilising tHe ffdete ih'Mitefc of the hemp. The Association has written urging the Government not to delay the matter but at once let tbe world know what offer New Zealand is leaking to restore to prosperity an itidustfy that is peculiarly her dtfil and that at the present time cannot ■ «6nlpete with similar; industries in other parts producing fibre cheapor : ttircJugli improved iiiachinery. The Government is requested to advertise in the Gazette the English Enquirer, the Scientific American and the Cordage Jour nil. All the flax districts of the colony will wait with impatience the action of the Government, for delay is every day getting more serious. The hint of the bonus has already set many minds to work in the colony and the chairman of the Association has received .several specimens of what it is said can be done, certainly improvements, on what is being done. By the last mail troni America ho also received advice of a new machine that will compete, which if it does what is promised will revolutionize entirely the industry and justify planting flax instead of destroying it as many are tempted to do now.