THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1387, 17 April 1915, Page 2

THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

Iu an address of welcome to the Japanese Trade Commissioners at Whitaunui on Wednesday, where the visitors were entertained at luncheon, Mr Herman Seifert, president of the Flaxtnillers’ Association, stated that they looked upon Japan as an ally iu these times (hear hear). ‘T would like to say, as far as the flax industry is concerned,” went on Mr Seifert, ‘‘that New Zealand has, if I may use the term, an absolute monopoly of it, I believe one other place has a flaxmill, and that place became celebrated as the home of Napoleon after his final defeat, Si, Helena. The mill there was looked after at one time by the chief hemp grader, Mr Ferris. The home of the industry is practically exclusively in this part of the Mauavvatu, and the output in no other place compares with Manawatu. Flaxmilliug is carried on in Auckland and as far south as Invercargill, but it olteu happens that as soon as prices go down in the market, other places immediately drop out, whereas here the millers face the position.” Emphasising the importance of the industry, Mr Seifert slated that the amount of money invested in the industry in the Manawatu district alone was easily three-quarters of a million, aud an exceedingly large number of hands were kept going. He did not think that they had any product ol the land equalling it in this respect. The average acre of flax land produced 12 or 1-I cwt oi flbre, worth anything from £1 a hundredweight. He paid a tribute to the Government grading operations which kept the fibre at a reliable standard. Mr F. S. Pope, secretary for agriculture, in replying said he hoped that the results of the visitors’ mission, it not in the immediate future, at any rate, as soon as possible, will be better trade relations between Japan and New Zealand. ‘‘We don’t want to see our present trade to England go to Japan, but that which was recently held by Germany and Austria,” (Applause). On behalf of himself and Mr Ferris, Mr Pope expressed pleasure at the good relations prevailing between the millers aud the Department. There bad been a nice spirit manifested, and he and Mr Ferris were gratified to find that the efforts of the Department to be of real use to the flax industry, as well as to others, were appreciated by those concerned. It was not all “beer and skittles” working in Wellington trying to do something for different industries, working out things that sometimes did not lead to anything. If things were not running satisfactorily they were only too pleased to hear about them and to do their best to straighten matters out. Though they could not explain everything, they would do as much as they could to meet the millers and do their best for them. He impressed upon them not to be backward in approaching the Department. He thanked the Te Whitaunui proprietary for their cordial welcome to the party, aud heartily thanked them and the gathering for drinking the health of their Japanese visitors. (Applause).