Flax Notes.

Manawatu Herald, 15 September 1904, Page 2

Flax Notes.

Mr Bell, who resigned the of hemp grader in Wellington beJV cause he considered the salary was receiving too small, has been succeeded by Mr Hawkins, of maru. * sfc * * The millers who obtain their flax from the Makerua Estate waited on the Directors of the Estate recently with a view to getting the price of their royalties lowered. The Directors have promised to give the matter their consideration. * =1: An impression prevails amongst exporters of flax fibre as elicited at a meeting of the Invercargill Chamber of Commerce (says the Southland Times)-that “ringing in” takes place in the Home andfAmerican markets. The system of marking and branding bales of fibre is not at present as complete as it might be in New Zealand, hence unscrupulous buyers there may reremove the bale brands of a superior grade to an inferior quality, and thus deceive. Mr Fulton, .fibre expert, is also of opinion that this has been done on occasions. y * * * On Tuesday afternoon a deputation from the Chamber of Commerce waited on the Minister of Lands to lay before him complaints that had been received regarding the irregularity of the hemp-grading, which resulted in hemp graded as “ common ” being “ really good fair,” and vice versa. Objection was also made to the system of marking the grading points on the hemp bales, Mr Holmes stating that "it would result in great injury to the industry. The Minister replied that enquiries had been made at Home for the grading tags on the hemp that had given rise to the complaint, and these Were awaited before taking action. He was unable to favourably consider the objection to plao- , ing the points on the hemp bales, the arguments in favour thereof having convinced his officers and himself of its advisability. In reply to a query as to whether another grader would be appointed before the summer, the Minister replied that the appointment had been j_* * * made. ... A letter of especial interest to hemp exporters (says the Post) was read by the Hemp Committee of the Chamber of Commerce, which on the Minister of Lands on dav afternoon. The letter was from a New York firm to Messrs Fildes, Mitchell & 00., and the writers stated that the quality of a shipment of New Zealand hemp which it had received was unsatisfactory. Unless the graders took considerably more pains in the grading £ ofthe hemp, it was stated, the American market would again be lost* to New Zeal and fibre merchants. The faults complained of are excess of |iow, uncleanliness of fibre and pulp, and bad colour. "If the hemp keeps arriving in the same poor condition as the last two shipments/ we feel confident that New'Zealand hemp will get a black eye, from which it will not soon recover,” says this firm, which continues to point out that the competition between sisal and Manila- makes it absolutely .necessary that no fault should be found in the New Zealand fibre. “We fear, inasmuch as, owing to the depressed condition and overproduction of both Manila and sisal, lower prices will rule this season that the millers of your country will be getting careless and produce a much inferior fibre than we are at present receiving. If they #° this, as stated above, New. Zealand will get such a blow that business will again become practically extinct. The only show that New Zealand fibre has of becoming a large and important factor in this market 1 will be for its absolute guarantee in quality and no deterioration whatsoever.” « ♦ ■ * *. ■ v If the above letter may be taken as a correct index of the condition of the hemp market in America, there is a strong probability of New Zealand hemp being dropped in favour of Manila; and the loss of the American trade would naturally have effect on the' flax trade generally. Certainly an Improvement is warranted in,;.the present mode of dressing flax iOithe colony. Practically fhe same machinery is used now as was used in the initial stages of the trade, and this is a serious obstacle to an improved standard of fibre. It is true that Manila hemp is superior in many ways to the colonial article, but it is equally true that with 'improved methods New Zealand fibre of a far better quality could be turned out. It an improved means of treating fibre could be devised, the faults of which the American merchants complain would to a greats extent be remedied.