APPOINTMENT OF A FLAX GRADER TO FOXTON.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3721, 20 October 1906, Page 2

APPOINTMENT OF A FLAX GRADER TO FOXTON.

The following is the correspondence that has passed between the member ' for the district and the Minister of Agriculture in respect to the appointment of a flax grader for Foxtou : Wellington, Aug. 24. The Hon. Minster for Agriculture Sir. —I have the honour to inform you that a private firm is prepared to expend about /8000 in the erecton and equipment of flax grading and wool dumping stores at Foxton providing that the Government will appoint a Government flax grader to carry out the work of hemp grading at that port. The advantage to the flax industry and to wool growers in the locality will be very great indeed, and as the cost to the Government will be practically nil, the salary of the grader will be paid by the scale charges per ton collected by the Government from the millers. As this question is one of the most vital importance to the producers in the locality, I trust that you may be pleased to give it your early and most favour-, able consideration.—l am, etc., John Stevens. Wellington, Aug. 26. John Stevens Esq., M.H.R. Sir.—Re flax grading at Foxton I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 24th inst. applying for a flax grader to be stationed at Foxton. In reply I have to say that I am making enquiries into the matter, and will advise you of the result at the earliest possible moment. Yours etc., ; Robert McNab. Wellington, Sept 5. J. Steves. Esq. M.H.R, Sir. —In reply to your letter of 24th ultimo in regard to the proposal that this Department should undertake the grading of phormium fibre at Foxton. I have the honour to inform you that it is intended to take up this work as soon as a suitable store for the purpose is available. I cannot however see my way clear to appoint for this purpose a building* controlled by any person or com*' pany dealing in phormium fibre, ds such a course would be manifestly unfair to others engaged in the same business. I may mention that two of the shipping companies have approached the Department with a view to ' having their buildings at the port in question appointed grading stores, and that the matter is at present under consideration. —Yours etc., Robert McNab. Wellington, Sept 8. Sir.—l have the honour .to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the sth inst., respecting the proposed appointment of a Government hemp erader at Foxton for which I have to thank you. I would, however, point out that when discussing this question with the Under Secretary for Agriculture some months since, I understood that gentleman to say then , there would be no objection to the appointment of a grader in a suitable store belonging to a private person or firm. He instanced the fact that there is a Government hemp grader appointed at Picton, the hemp grading store being owned by Messrs Devin and Go. of Wellington, and that as it is being carried out satisfactorily at that port, there could be little or no objection to a similar course being adopted at Foxton. J understand that this firm is prepared to erect a suitable building at a cost of about If there, are to be buildings erected oyer which no private persons are to have private control, it will then be necessary for the Department of Agriculture, the Public Works Department or the Railway Department to erect the necessary building and establish the required hydraulic plant at Foxton. I would, however, respectfully suggest that your Department might draft a form of agreement to be signed by the owner or owners of the proposed store which would safeguard the rights of all millers and the Crown. When the late Premier visited Foxton, a deputation introduced to him by myself, made a request that a Government hemp grader should be appointed at Foxton and I then stated that it would be necessary for the Government to erect a suitable store whereupon the deputation were unanimously of the opinion that it would better suit the purpose of millers generally if the store were erected by what is known as the Manawatu • Steam jßiver Service Coy, which - practically means Messrs Devin and Co., of Wellington. This question is of the greatest urgency and as the Department is not being asked to expend any money whatever, I do trust that you may be pleased to give the mattei your early and favourable consideration

and so assist this great industry towards which the Government have not paid 5s at any time. In fact, there is a surplus of money accumulated from grading fees paid by the millers, in the hands of the Department ot Agriculture over and above the whole cost of providing graders and administration generally in connection with the flax industry. Shortly put, the flaxmillers are contributing towards the upkeep of the Department of Agriculture, which, on the face of it, is manifestly unjust. Contrast this with the payments made and general outgoing to dairy farmers and graziers and it must be evident that hitherto the flaxmillers have been unfairly treated at the hands of the Department, I hope to have an opportunity of discussing the matter with you personally in order to render such assistance as I ca!n towards having this very desirable appointment made to the mutual satisfaction of the Department and the flaxmillers at the Earliest possible date. —I am, etc., John Stevens. Wellington, Sept n. Sir.—l beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter re flax grading at Foxton. I will give the matter careful consideration and communicate with you later on. —I am, etc., Robert McNab. Wellington, Sept 21. John Stevens Esq. M.H.R. Sir. — With reference to your letter of Bth inst. in regard to the erection of a grading store for phormium fibre at Foxton, I have the honour to inform you that the two Shipping Companies are considering the question of building a Store or stores, and no objection will be made to their doing so. It is expected the matter will be settled definitely in a few days. As regards the question of fees the amount contributed does little more than pay for the bare cost of grading.—l am, etc., Robert McNab. Wellington Sept 24. Sir.—l have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 24th inst. re the appointment of a Government hemp grader at Foxton, and in reply thereto desire to say that I wish to know’ whether or not the Government would appoint a grader if suitable buildings were erected by private enterprise but have not, as yet, received a reply on that point. Your letter does not answer my question but states that there is no objection to the erection of stores. This is not the question. The point is, will the Government appoint a grader if the store be erected. Trusting that you may be pleased to give me an early and definite reply.— I am, etc., John Stevens. Wellington, Sept, 26. Sir.—ln reply to your letter of 24th inst regarding the proposed grading of phormium fibre at Foxton, I have the honour to inform you that it is intended to undertike this work when a suitable store has been approved for the purpose. With regard to the selection of the store I may say it is probable that buildings to be erected by two of the shipping companies will be appointed, as it would not be satisfactory to all concerned to accept any store controlled by private persons.—l am etc. Robert McNab.