THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 450, 20 February 1909, Page 3

THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

In conversation with a wellknown flaxmiller recently, we were informed that millers generally are opposed to approaching Government in respect to legislation governing royalties on flax. He stated that a grower who paid proper attention to his flax crops, draining and carrying out improvements, paying rates and taxation, could not afford to sell his flax at a lower royalty than ios per ton. Of course, he added,*this price does not apply to those who do not spend anything on improvements. He said he could not find words strong enough to condemn the practice of exacting a large sum of money from millers by growers for the right to cut. This, in his opinion, had been the cause of much dissatisfaction in reference to royalties, He likened it to a person going into a shop to purchase an article, the commercial value of which is 2£ 6d, but because the storekeeper has a monopoly of the said article he can exort an extra shilling. He objected to the growing flax being taxed, since other crops were exempt from taxation. He was of opinion that flaxmill employees should consent to have the industrial situation again reviewed by the Arbitration Court.