THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Herald, 18 August 1898, Page 3

THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

DEPUTATION TO THE PREMIER AND MINISTER FOR LANDS. Yesterday morning Mr J. Stevens, M.H.R., introduced to the Premier and Minister of Lands a deputation consisting of Messrs J. R. Stansell (Mayor ot Foxton), C. Austin, P. Hennessy, Alf. Fraser, T. Wsstwood, T. Mitchell, A. King, W. Hamer, J. W. Walsh, Rev. W. Woollass, B. Spelman, A. Langley, T. Bradcock, John Walls, F. Easton, A. Heasmanj J. Stiles, G. Cotey, A. Osborne, T. Betty, R. H. Barber, W. Barber, S. Nicholls, J. Shaw, J. McQueen, O. Gardner, F. Robinson, D. Whibley, R. Whibiey, and C. A. Harrison, also representatives of Johnston & Co., J. Duthie & Co., Luke & Co,, W. Cable & Co., John Holmes & Co., Robertson & Co., Nathan & Co., Paterson & Co., and Trades Council. The reporters of the Press Association, Evening Post, N. Z. Times, and Manawatu Herald were also in attendance. Mr Stevens, in introducing the deputation, said it consisted of flaxmillers from the Foxton district and a number of business people from Foxton and Wellington, who desired to lay before the Government their view of the case with respect to the Motoa Estate. Knowing as he did every detail in connection with the means by which one hundred families obtained their living in the locality of Foxton, it was perfectly evident that they would have to seek some other kind of employment if the flax on the Motoa Estate were grubbed up. It was well known that flax mills gave employment to people who were unfitted for any other kind of work and enabled them to live comfortably whilst the flax was at a reasonable price. During the period when the price of flax had been depressed, the people of Foxton had managed to eke out a mere existence, but now that the price had risen considerably, and judging from what one read send heard it was likely to maintain that price for some time it was to be hoped that the Government would see its way to acquire even the whole of the estate for settlement purposes. He was quite sure it would pay the Government very well indeed, and from his own experience he could say that the estate would be taken up within a reasonable time. The Government could with profit to themselves and without it costing the colony one half-penny acquire one thousand* acres of flax land on the Motoa Estate, and let the right of cutting flax on royalty to'flaxmillers, there being five mills in the locality. It was true that up to the present time the estate had received very little from the flax. He understood £90 per annum had been obtained, at least during the last two or three years. But taking the present year and future years he felt confident that the amount of royalty paid would be more than equivalent to 5 per cent on the 6ne thousand acres proposed to be acquired. Taking into consideration that there were at least one hundred families dependant on the industry in the district, hirthought that given a colonial as well as a local point of vie"w it was desirable that the Government should give assistance to the flax industry rather than allow those dependant on it to be thrown on charitable aid. Mr J. R. Stansell pointed out that the residents of Foxton had been in communication with the Premier as well | as the Minister of Lands in respect to J the flax industry, and the Premier had 1 both verbably and in writing ex- j pressed his willingness to help them. He then asked Mr McQueen, Town Clerk of Foxton, to read the petition from 392 residents of Foxton. Mr McQueen then read the peti- . tion, after which Mr Stansell said the flax industry affected the whole of the colony, though Foxton was one of the largest centres of the industry in the colony. Never the less, the question was not a local but a colonial one, as one place could not be affected without affecting all places. In 1889-90 the flax industry had solved the unemployed difficulty, and had also lessened the call on charitable aid, both of which were two very important items to any Government. He quoted from a table which recently appeared in the " Manawatu Herald " showing that the flax industry employed more hands compared with the amount produced as did freezing works and other manufactories. The Premier, in reply, promised to lay the request before Cabinet and the Assets Board. He was much impressed with the nnmber of the deputation and importance of the subject. The remainder of report of the proceedings will appear on Saturday.