New Zealand Flax.

Manawatu Herald, 14 May 1904, Page 3

New Zealand Flax.

The market is again sagging, and these weaknesses are becoming frequent enough to demand attention. With some of those interested in the trade there is a disposition to regard quality as not being up to the standard that formerly prevailed; at the same time there is no suggestion that the official graders are not doing their utmost to maintain a high standard. The difference in price between G.F.A. and F.A.Q. is so very small that there is a strong temptation for millers to produce the lower grade, the profit on this grade being much higher than on G.F.A., because the coat of production is so much less. Advices from the terminal market indicate that sisal is coming more and more into competition wFh New Zealand hemp by reason of the increased output and also because it is better adapted for binder twine. It seems that the Americans have altered the manufacture of raanila, the native methods being set aside for work by machinery. This, it is alleged, weakens the fibre, rendering it of little use for mixing with New Zealand hemp, which has been the practice of manufacturers of binder twine. All these considerations may be influencing the market, but there is also the feature that the consumers are unable to afford high prices. There is a general decline in the world’s trade, and values of most commodities will be affected.— Post.