FLAX INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3723, 27 November 1906, Page 4

FLAX INDUSTRY.

THE GRADING SYSTEM-

Prospects of the Season.

Some of the flaxmillers of Southland, which district islargely interested in the flaxmilling industry, have been somewhat prominent lately in criticism of the Government grading system. At a public meeting held there recently the complaint was made that “ the standard had been raised at the cost of the miller. This meant

that thousands of pounds were being lost to the millers by sending out a higher standard of material than people wanted, because there had been some isolated complaints that the fibre had been irregular.” Interviewed in regard to this question by a “ Times ” reporter, Mr C. J. Fulton, Chief Government Hemp Expert said : “ When I started with the. Government nearly six years ago, the price that was being offered for our best quality fibre was about /20 a ton, and only one exporter I knew was getting that. The ‘ good fair average’ price was to £l6 a ton. To-day, for the common or fifth grade alone shippers are getting £2% a ton ; for ‘ good fair ’ from ,£34 to ,£35 ; and for fine to superior to So that you can work it out as to whether millers are losing by the standard conditions now imposed. They are not. In any case the quantity produced is not up to the demand.

“ So many millers have come into the business who are uninitiated, and therefore know little about it, that they are at the mercy of their men. Their statements are often taken in prelerence to those of the department’s experts. If a miller’s material is not up to the standard, and it is graded accordingly, the graders are blamed, because itjfrequentlyjhappens that the miller has not adequate knowledge of the preparation of the fibre, and if he is losing-'so much per ton, through bad quality fibre, it is only natural that' he should complain. The graders know exactly what can be done with the stripper, what can be done with water working to rid the fibre of all its acids and deleterious matter, what can and should be done in fielding, bleaching and scutching. They know the quality ot the raw material, and on that knowledge rests their basis of work. If the leaf is inferior the proportion of its leaf suffers accordingly. In the manner explained the grades are arrived at. If a grader makes a mistake his imperfection in grading is subject to review, and this will be to his detriment. 11 The condition of the fibre industry in this country is certainly on the up grade. The result this session is already far beyond expectation. Prices are abnormal, not only for fibre, but also for tow. Auckland,* being more a maiden country than other parts, is increasing its output. Flaxmills are going up in all places, and are getting right into the very back-' blocks, present prices allowing the mills there to be worked profitably. Right from the North Cape almost to the south of Auckland and east and west are mills dotted here and there. The development is going on gradually, and as over-sea buyers are becoming more satisfied with our product, speculators are going further afield in the erection of fresh mills.

“In the Wellington and Manawatu districts the leaf is getting scarce, and some of the mills have closed down on that account, the owners deciding to close the flax areas for about eighteen months to give them a chance to recover. The Otago mills have had a heavy strain on them during the last two or three years. Wherever there was an opportunity, mills were erected, and the flax areas have naturally become depleted. In Southland the growth of the crop is not so forced as in the north, as the flax does not grow under such favourable conditions. There has been a great strain on the flax available in that district, every blade being cut, to take advantage of the top prices, though they may get it all back again three years hence.”