Public Meeting.

Manawatu Herald, 12 September 1896, Page 2

Public Meeting.

The meeting at the Hall last night was a great success in every way, the attendance having been large and the speaking _ excellent, and great unanimity prevailed. The Mayor took the chair punctually at 8 o'clock, and having notified the' apologies from Messrs J. G. Wilson, J. Stevens, A. W. Hogg, P. Pirani, C. H. Mills, and J. L. Buick, M's.H.R., for not being present, he called upon Mr Holmes to address them. Mr Holmes first read telegrams of encouragement and good wishes received from the Huddart-Parker Company through whose auspices the Vancouver service is now being introduced to the Government ; one from Mr David Robertson, and one from Mr Luke, who had both signed a petition to Government lp favour of appointing a flax expert. It was in response to a special invitation tbat he was present. He had been many years connected with flax as miller, shipper, and grader, gave , a brief and interesting history' I',1 ', of the flax industry 'as 'token* from'""' colonial statistics. Flax, he pointed out, is one of the oldest exports of the colony, it having commenoed in 1809. Between 1828 - 1832 £50,000 worth of hemp^ was B>:d in the Sydney" ma|£etß. In 1861 the first machine-dressed fibre was inquired for, and value steadily increased from £21 to £56 per ton, and in some instances the market in America actually increased to £76 per ton during the Civil War. In. 1867 there were only 15 mills employing 150 men whilst in 1871 there were 161 milk employing 1768 hands and turning out 4255 tons. This fell in 1886, but in 1891 the number of mills rose to 177 mills, .. employing 3204 men and boys, and turning out fibre valued at over £23 ±,000. In 1890 ihe maximum quantity was exported, reaching 21,158 tons, valued at £882,000; this fell in 1894 to 4677 tons, valued at £66,000, and in 1895 to only 1806 tons, valued at £21,000. In 1896, for the half year ending 80th June, a steady improvement had taken place on the preceding year, amounting to 2017 tons for the six months valued at £22,195. These figures give some indication of the rise and fall. in th£ fibre market. "Various Commissions have been set up which have made reports,, some blaming the turn-out of the fibre, and complaining of the uneven quality of the brands. It was not till 1898 that some special effort was made, which was when some of the flaxuiillera objected to the rejection of their fibre by the merchants. He had tben been waited on at Wellington to suggest a remedy, and in response issued a circular offering to regulaie classification and grading, the but* come being a meeting held in Foxton at which a Flaxmillers' Association ' was fo'ined. Mr Holmes here re-* ferred to and regretted the absence of Mr Robert Gardner, one who was a friend of his, and who had always taken au interest iv the flax industry. The Millers' Association appointed him (the speaker) grader, and he now took the opportunity of thanking them ior the honor they then conferred upon hini. He thought it. was a pity grading was not continued as it is the established oustom of every country to grade their exports. The Irish had always graded their Cork butter, the Russians branded their tallow, manilla hemp could be bought by brand, and American , wheat is also sold to sample. Grad- ' ing gives an advantage to the honest producer, and instih confidence in . the buyer, an inestimable good not' to be neglected. Mr Haggen bad always stood up for the cause of the "*■" flaxmillers. Mr Haggen had waited on various merchants . as to the revival of the trade, and one was suggested which he took up - the bonus ' system. This he had written about, and had interviewed- the speaker who' - bad objected to the system of sending bounty fed goods to rot in the London markets. He, however, suggested the advisableness of first finding out the real causes that affected the consumption of New Zea.land hemp, which best could be. accomplished by the appointment of a qualified expert to investigate the markets of the world. The millers needed not a bonus but a market, as they were willing to compete with their neighbours. He suggested _• that it should be found from the makers of binder twine what hindered the use of the flax. It was resolved by several that a petition should be sent by the people to the Government on this question, the result we already know. The Department having stated their opinion " that it would be little or no good to send an expert - to canvas the manufacturers, owing ' to the fact that there were 100,000 bales of unsold sisii now in Ame- ' rica " If anything was wanting; to strengthen the argument for the appointment of an expert it was this letter, af if there was no competition there would be no need to worry about the matter. We are only asking for an expert to assist our only national product which i? indigenous to the soil, except that of timber. L?t the Department apply their reply to the hempmillers to the butter industry, for tha Danes if called upon could supply all the requirements of Britain in butter ;

IBHIJI I \K Mil l I II mw and Ceyfon could be ignored because China could supply all ib.e~"fea that tfas wanted ; and locally we could ■vy that Mr Hennessy might be Cosed up because Mr Westwood could do all the trade. 25,000 tons of fibre was annually used in Canada alone for binder twine ; in America they used 60,000 tons; in Kansas 15,000,000 pounds cf binder twine were now wanted annually where four years ago none was required. This is what is going on the world over, and arß we to ait idly by and make no attempt to get a share? Mr Holmes touched on the advantage of the Vancouver service to the flax trade, pointing out the great possibilities that were in front of the flixmillevs by the establishment of direct trade with Canada, he ex^ pressed regret that the Bill introduced by the Hon J. G. Ward during last session for a reciprocity treaty with this Dominion did not receive the support it deserved, but he was pleased to notice that the matter was again introduced to Parliament, and he urged the flaxmillers here to invite the member of the district to support the movement. He men* tioned that binder twine was to-day fetching £46 a ton in Canada. Would we want any help from the Government even if we got only a third of this amount? There is Another market for flax, as Germany oould use a veiy large quantity of binder twine, and with their cheap labour they could make up our fibre for export. He believed this trade oould be secured by a personal sanvass throughout the world. He could not believe that the Government will refuse to help the flax-* millers after what they have done for butter, meat, &c. Not only flax* millers are interested in the trade, but the ironfounders, shippers, and railways are interested. We must pull unitedly together and victory ia ours. (Applause ) Mr Haggen rose to support the proposals of Mr Holmes. He mentioned that when travelling wi'h the representative of the Walter A. Wood Go. he asked why they did not use N.Z. flax for their binder twine and the reply was that it was the very bast, bat the company was unable to get an even supply, but they would use it again if they could be assured of a supply. Mr Haggen said he then thought under these circumstances it would pay the Government to give a bonus so as to help the industry along. He thought it strange that people in Kanßas should have to go to Ireland for their binder twine, and he thus got to think we ought to have an expert to move around. When suggesting an expert he found they were treading on interested toes, however they intended to fight this question and had come to this town for the people to back them. If they d.'d so victory must come. The dairy industiy had progressed by aid of the strong hand of the Government and the flax industry could be similarly advanced. The milling industry had been helped considerably by the establishment of the timber conference. Flax ia a waste product, but if worked it utilised what it has cost nothing to grow. Ha could, despite what was said to the contrary, say that manilla and sisal was the same price as it was years ago, bat had been increased by the gold premium. In support of sending an expert he instanced merchants who sent their travellers around and so for the goods we have to sell we should do, and millers should be placed in the position that they could put in their Government branded fibre and draw their bank draft and so ship direct to the manufacturer. He recommended that electors should ask a'l candidates if they would support this expert business, if they would not, scratch their names out. He had been amongst the business people and they 1 had all jecornmended Mr Holmes, and it would be suggested that he should ba the man recommended to the Government to obtain. As a candidate for the Wellington suburbs, Mr Haergen said he would make this question of aid to the flaxtrade, .ft plank in his platform. (Applause.) The following resolutions were then put and carried unanimously and enthusiastically :- Proponed by Mr W. B. Rhodes, seconded by Mr Eure, That this meeting views with regret the long continued depression existing in the flax industry in New Zealand, whereby the ranks of the unemployed are largely swelled owing to the number of men and lads thrown out of work and the total of the colony's exports greatly diminshed. Proposed by Mr Westwood, seconded by Mr Bhodes, That this meeting viewing the reply made by the Department of Agriculture under date 27th August to the effect that the Government, in the face of the ample BUpply of sisal now existing, anticipates little if any good to result to the flax industry in New Zealand from a special mission throughout the world on its behalf, begs to most respectfully dissent from such conclusion for the following reasons :— (a) That the exist tance of a full supply of other competing fibres is no adequate reason why New Zealand, possessing as it does. an abundant natural growth of flax should neglect to push such trade in all quarters where fibres are used, (b) That if the exaot requirements of the trade at the vartouß centres of industry were ascertained and complied with, it. is confidently believed that largely increasing demand foi N.Z. Hemp would follow, (c) That if a proper system of grading, classification, and baling suitable to the requirements oi the several markets were universally ad opted, much of the prejudice now ap parently existing against N.Z. Hemp would disappear, (d) Tnat though Manilla oi Sisal fibres are soiling at higher values tbii should not effect the consumption at s proportionately lower figure of New Zsa land fibre, our millers here being contenl to accept such relatively reduced prices sc long as they can get an outlet for theii produotion while waiting for that improvement in the hemp market which woulc affect all fibres, (c) That the valuable aic extended by the Government to the Dairj and Timber Industries having succ eded in largely increasing the sale of these products in the Home markets in the faca of enormous imports of simitar commodities from other countries, this meeting evidently believes that if similar help be extended to the flax industry the sales in connection therewith would be greatly augmented notwithstanding the stocks of manilla and sisal fibres held in London •nd America. Proposed by Mr A. Fraser, seconded by Mr Mitchell, That this meeting is of i opinion that a qualiSed expert in the flix ' trade ,sh ju'd be fully accredited by the [ Government to at once visit the principal

centres of industry throughout the world with a view to ascertain what hindrances exist to the development of our hemp industry and to make suoh arrangements or give such undertakings', as may be required to obviate them, and to further submit to the Government what recom>mendations he may consider necessary for the dne oontrol of future exports. Snob special expert to be also empowered to make known to engineers and iron founders the terms and conditions of the bonuses of £1750 and £250 now offered by the New Zealand Government for an improvement of flax-dressing machinery and utilisation of the waste product, viz., tow. Proposed by Mr Austin, seconded by Mr Osborne, That this meeting desires to add its opinion that for such a mission as before advocated no fitter person could be found for it than Mr John Holmes of Blenheim and Wellington whose long experience in flax both as manufacturer, shipper and grader, gives him qualifications which world be of inestimable service in the matter. Mr Haggen desired to suggest how the diversion of the river could be financed. The loss in crops, grass and stock had been enormous, he had heard, owing to the floods. He thought the scheme bore upon the port as much as the river. Mr J. T. Stewart has made some report on this scheme, which showed there was nothing impractical but more a question of money. If, by a canal to take the water off 100,000 acres such land could be made valuable, it should be financed. The Government should lend the public bodies and farmers money at £2 per cent., which they could, as now bankers got money at £2 per cent, for their note issue. Supposing it cost £100,000, and 2 per cent, was charged and spread over 100,000 acres, it would be only 9d per acre per annum. The Government had told him they intended to go into this question of cheap money after the elections. He mentioned he would some day give an address on State finance in this town. (Applause.) Mr Thynne then proposed a most hearty vote of thanks to Messrs Holmes and Haggen for their eloquent addressei. and for their presence there that night. It was a good thing to meet energetic people who took an interest in public matters, and Mr Holmes bad so clearly explained the advantages likely to follow the appointment of an expert for the flax trade, an industry of such vast importance to this district, that he had made a convert of him, and he would do his best to assist the movement in every way. '. The Mayor put the resolution, which was seconded by Mr Westwood, when it was carried amid applause. Messrs Holmes and Haggen returned thanks, and proposed and seconded a vote of thanks to the chair. The meeting was one of the best we have seen for years in the hall. Mr Holmes is a powerful and eloquent speaker, and carried the meeting with him on every point, and our report is but a brief summary of an address bristling with facts and figures which proved the position aimed at. It should be of vast assistance to the question, and should be the means of opening the eyes of the Government to the necessity of doing that- which they have been asked.