THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2020, 26 August 1919, Page 3

THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

,MR. FIELD, M.P., URGES REDUCTION OF FREIGHTS. LETTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER. The following letter has been forwarded to the Right Hon. the Prime Minister by Mr W. H. Field, ALP. for Otaki, under date 22nd inst:— “For some time past during your absence I have been in communication with the Government, strongly urging that steps should be taken to save our one particular industry, the Jtaxmilling-one, from extinction, threatened as the result of the terrific freights on hemp. I enclose a clipping from “The Manawatu Herald’ of the 21st instant, containing an announcement by Mr J. A. Duncan, Secretary of the Northern Flaxmillers’ Association. From it you will gather some facts as to the seriousness of the position. The freight has increased since the beginning of the war from 13 5s to

£2O per ton on hemp, and to £32 per ton on tow. In the Manawatu district some millers ai’e already destroying their flax, and devoting the land Jo agricultural purposes. In the ease of one firm, this is being done over a very large 'area, I believe of some thousands of acres, which up till recently was growing magnificent tlax. If is certain that something 'must be done, and at mice, to secure a reduction of freights if the industry is to have a chance of survival. You will note that though the increase of freight is the main reason, the difficulties of the millers have been largely augmented by the increased price of land and of labour. It would be a thousand pities if the hemp industry were to disappear from our midst, for, given a fair chance and a reasonably satisfactory market, flax is undoubtedly the best and most profitable crop which can be grown on land which suits it. I trust you will take the maUcijinto your immediate and earnest consideration.”

Mr Field previously brought the subject under the notice of other Ministers, but without success.