Flaxmillers' Association.

Manawatu Herald, 7 January 1905, Page 2

Flaxmillers' Association.

A well attended meeting of the New Zealand Flaxmillers' Association was held at Palmerston North yesterday, Mr Gardiner presiding. CORRESPONDENCE. From Mr J. Vile, M.H.R., forward, ing details oi receipts and expenditure by the Department of Agriculture in respect to hemp from January x6tn, 1901, up to when grading was started and including March 31st, 1904. The receipts, with charges collected from shippers, totalled £3494 15 s - Expenditure—Salaries, wages and labour, £2170 12s 2d ; travelling expenses, £50255; tags, twine, stationary, advertising, etc., £324 ns4d; sundries, £lB is 4d ; total," £3015, 9 s nci * In * creases to graders’ salaries and expenditure in connection with extra officers to be appointed, together incidental expenses, will absorb surplus.—To be acknowledged. From the Southland Flaxmillers’ Association, making enquiries relative to gum, etc., being drained into streams, and adding they were in contact with Acclimatisation Societies in the South on the question referred to. „ From the same stating Mr H. Seifert would represent that Association at the North Island Conference to be held at a future date.

From Marlborough flax-millers, asking for copies of the rules adopted by this Association. From several flaxmillers, forwarding details of their expenditure on accident insurance. MISCELLANEOUS. It was decided to hold future meetings of the Association in Palmerston. The secretary reported that at present there were 24 members of the Association. It was decided, on Mr Seifert's motion, seconded by Mr M. Cohen, that a conference should be held in Wellingtos, between the Wellington Chamber Commerc®, flax merchants, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Flaxmillers’ Association, at a date to be agreed upon, relative to the grading of New Zealand hemp and Other matters incidental to the industry. After discussion, it was decided, on Mr M, Cdhdri’s motion, that < the matter of formulating ari underwriters scheme for co-operative insurance amongst flaxmillers, covering both accident and limited fire risks, be referred to the standing committee with power to expend £5 55 if necessary in obtaining a professional actuary's preliminary opinion and advice. THE GERMAN PROCESS. Dr Rockstrow attended and sub* mitted specimens of flax fibre treated by a special process invented by a German lady. He said he had been personally interviewe'* by the inventors of the process when in Germany recently and they had give-.., him a free hand to deal with the milfo.-. in connection with the process. ila added the inventors had been in communication with the Government for fully 18 months past, but owing to the difficulty of each party corresponding in a foreign language, nothing had been done.

Replying to questions, Dr Rockstrow said the fine fibre was better than linen hemp, and was wortli from £5 to £8 more than the home grown article. The process Was partly chemical, but it did not injure the fibre. It could be eaten if necessary. Fifteen hundred gallons cf prepared mixture would cost 2s fid. No paddocking was involved, the fibre being put through a wringer which improved its appearance. Explaining the process adopted, Dr Rockstrow said the flax was first placed in boiling water, with chemicals at a cost of 2s fid per 1500 gallons, the flax was left in the water for an hour to an hour and a half, then rolled to remove the fleshy part of it; washed in another chemical preparation to remove gum, the cost of the latter beieg included in the 2s fid already stated, put through a wringer and then scutched damp. The cost would be about £5 per ton production, and there was no offal.

The chairman suggested the Government should be asked to take the matter up and send Home an experimental shipment to ascertain the mercantile value. Mr Cohen pointed out that a local syndicate already had the first refusal of the process from Dr Rockstrow. Mr J. Stevens said the important points were the cost ot production from the green flax to the bale and the quality ot the product. He moved that a select committee from the association be formed to assist Dr Rockstrow with details required by the millers and also to receive necessary information from him. that they together report to the conference and the whole question dealt with at a future meeting. The motion was withdrawn, Mr Cohen stating that the syndicate had no objection to the flaxmillers becoming parties to the arrangement made with Dr Rockstrow. Messrs Gardner, L. Pascal and Seifert were appointed a committee to obtain information on the subject.— M. Standard.