THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 830, 23 April 1910, Page 3

THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

DEPUTATION TO THE MINISTER.

The deputation from the Flaxmillers’ Association, which was appointed some months ago to wait upon the Minister for Agriculture, had an opportunity, by courtesy of the Hon. T. McKenzie, to place their views before him on Thursday, during an interval between his arrival from the Wairarapa and his departure for the North by the Main Trunk express. The necessarily short notice which the Minister was able to give the Association prevented many of the members of the deputation from attending, but those who were available, consisting of Messrs M. Cohen, H. Gibbons L. Seifert and R. Spencer (secretary of the Association), were received by the Minister at the Grand Hotel, Palmerston North.

Mr M. Cohen acted as chief speaker, and referred, amongst other things, to the most pressing needs of the industry. The first matter referred to was the appointment of a chief grader in order that an equality ol grading should be established throughout the Dominion. He said that there was a great deal of dissatisfaction and discontent under the present conditions, not that graders were not expert and reliable in their work, but through the absence of a supervising band there were serious divergencies in the grading at the several ports of the Dominion. It was felt that the appointment suggested would obviate this to a large extent. Reference was also made to the desirability of a closer system of grading in the direction of a finer subdivision of the points in each grade, whereas the differences between fair and good fair, etc., are ten points each, said Mr Cohen. The high pointed parcels in each grade should receive not only the reward of their intrinsic value, but they should have a commercial standing under the authority of the Department. Mr Cohen referred at some length to the advisability of reinstating the bonus for an invention or new method having for its object the cheapening of the cost of production. The industry had attracted considerable notice from Europe and America, and it was felt that there were many scientists and others who would turn their attention to this matter if it was made worth their while, and that any improvement, either in the quality ol the article or its method of production, would enlarge the scope of its utility and generally increase the demand.

It was suggested that if the Government could see their way to do this, any cost to which they were put would be recouped by a tonnage charge to millers until the Government was reimbursed for its outlay. This practice, Mr Cohen pointed out, was in vogue in many other countries, which were anxious to losler their industry in order to equip them against outside competition. Another matter referred to was the good effects which would follow the closer touch between the Flaxmillers’ Association and the heads oi the Department, whereby any recommendation or suggestion after being tried and approved by the Millers’ Association, would be directly referred to the Department.

The Minister received the deputation most cordially and sympathetically. He explained that he had been anxious to meet the deputation for some time, but the pressure upon his time had prevented this, contrary to his personal wishes. He said that he had given some thought already to many of the representations made, with which he was entirely in accord, more especially the appointment of a chief grader, and that those connected with the industry should be put in closer touch with the Department of Agriculture. He stated that with regard to the bonus and further adjustment of grades, he would take the earliest opportunity of conferring with his colleagues in the heads of the Department to see what could be done in this matter. He stated that he was glad to hear the views of the deputation which had interested him very much, and they could count upon him to do all that was possible to promote in every way the interests of those concerned, recognising to the full how important it was that so valuable an industry should be encouraged in every way. The deputation, after thanking the Minister for his courtesy and cordiality of their reception, withdrew.