Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 1900. Going to Manila.

Manawatu Herald, 14 June 1900, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 1900. Going to Manila.

Qonxa to Manila — the place -where the fibre comes from, is the determination of Mr Herbert Austin, one of the partners of Austin Brothers flaxmillers of this town. It is an unfortunate thing that owing to the lack of interest the government takes in the flax industry, the most important voyage of discovery in this trade has been left in the hands of private persons to undertake. Unfortunate because it is most important reliable information was obtained as to what output of Manila fibre is going on the market; how much of that fibre is held ; and what are the probabilities of its being easily increased by cultivation ; and that information should have been obtained long ago by the government, and should now be undertaken by the government. It is unfortunate that the gleaning of this information should be left to private enterprise, as it is unlikely the information gained by a large outlay of money and loss of time, will be maie public, so that the majority of the millers will still be kept in the dark. We have so frequently urged upon the government, whose professions of interest in the flax industry has been so great, and, whose attempt to assist has been so little, to take steps to gather this much needed information through the British Consul, that we have every right to complain of the apathy they have displayed. This indifference on the part of the government is a grand illustration, of the value the Foxton Flaxmillers* Association will prove to the trade, as a powerful body, employing at all

times of the year an army of voters, will be able to get the proper consideration of their requests in spite of interested trade opposition of the towns. It is no new thing to recall the statements of the buyers of New Zealand flax in London and America that the price is wholly dependent on the price Manila secures in the market, and thus the fullest knowledge of the present and future prospects of the Manila fibre is one of the very greatest importance to the flax industry of this colony. With this full knowledge before the government it does seem more than a passing carelessness that no attempt has yet been made to secure the information needed We are glad to see that Foxton posses a firm that has accepted the views on the flax trade which wd have so frequently urged, and possesses sufficient energy to cease calling upon an indifferent government, to do its duty, and have doterminp^ to find out all about Manila for fchamieives. To our mind this in placing this firm in an unfair position and tha government should wake up and arrange, by means of a subsidy of pound for pound of the cost of the trip, for a report which could be made of public use. When the Americans took""over the task of subduing the Phillipinos from the Spaniards we were informed that very little manila fibre was being dressed, and the stocks of dressed fibre were stopped shipment owing to the blockade of the ports Since then we have heard of the despatch of manila fibre, and we want to know whether this was part of accumulated stocks or freshly prepared fibre. The high price that Manila has fetched in the London market pointed to small stocks being held, and the guerilla fighting that has been going on for the last two years would appear to be against cultivation being carried on. All this must be known at the port of Manila, and so, ought to be known here, not only by the middlemen buyers but by the men who produce the N.Z. fibre. The industry is of so great Hin importance to the colony that the fact of a single firm of flaxmillers having to go to a large outlay to secure this businesslike information should be felt as a serious reproach by the government and one which they should hastenja remove by sharing the expenseTfor information to be received. Will' the government so act ? ; I