FLAXMILLERS' ASSOCIATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2490, 7 October 1922, Page 2

FLAXMILLERS' ASSOCIATION.

’ ANNUAL MEETING. The annual general meeting ofT" the Association held yesterday in Palmerston North was attended by a large number of flaxmillers, the president, Mr 11*. T. Bell, presiding. PRESIDENT'S REPORT. The president reported on the year’s work as follows: Hemp grading. —This was the chief item dealt with during the year, and for some considerable time gave millers very grave. concern, owing to the loss of confidence by the overseas buyers in our grading system. Your representatives went to Wellington on this matter on many occasions, and eventually it was deemed advisable to request the Department of Agriculture to convene a conference of all those concerned in the hemp business. Millers, merchants, and rope and twine manufacturers sent representatives from all parts of the Dominion, and a most useful gathering resulted in the way of putting the grading of hemp on a better footing. A representative committee was set up to act with the Department in all matters pertabling to grading. It is intended to establish standard samples of all grades, and have a set of each posted at all grading stores throughout the Dominion, and by this means it is hoped that greatetr uniformity in the grading will be maintained throughout all grading stores. ; The question of the appointment of a chief hemp grader was also a matter which came very prominently before the conference, with the result that the Department gave a definite assurance that this appointment would be made as speedily as possible.

Yellow leaf disease. If our industry is going to remain, I would like to impress on all millers that they should give every assistance to the efforts now being made to establish a disease-resisting plant. Subscriptions to the extent of £l5O have been subscribed by three of your members. This amount has been subsidised by the Government by an equal amount. Mr Seifert, of the A. and L. Seifert Company, has allowed us to occupy about three acres of his company’s property at Makerua for the purpose of planting various varieties of flax. This, of course, will entail considerable expense, and unless the millers support the finances of this project, the useful work already done may’ll not be able to be continued. Port of Foxton. —This is a matter that should receive the close at- <, tention of this Association. Very few vessels are making this port, and therefore, the cost of transit of our produce has increased considerably. If this port could be made more workable, the cost of landing our coal would be very considerably reduced; so, it behoves us to lend a hand to the Harbour Board in any way that- will help this body to bring its port up-to-date. Accident Insurance. —I reget that I have to again refer to this item. The rate for this insurance has returned to its old high mark, and I would therefore strongly advise members to seriously consider the question of their Association obtaining quotations for a combined cover for all mills run by its members. " : - !i i

Tn conclusion. I wish to thank all members and the secretary' for their able assistance during my term of office, and I wish the incoming executive every success.—The report was adopted. ELECTION’OF OFFICERS. Tlie following officers were ap- V pointed for * the ensuing year; — President. Mr A. Ross; vice president, Mr R. T. Bell:, treasurer, Air H. Akers; executive. Messrs A. A. Brown. W. Xye. H. Berry, C. Petersen. A. King. A. Seifert, J. H. Stevens, C. A. Loughnnn. and E. Nash. .- - ' GENERAL. In connection .-rjWrthvit lte=p Brit ish Exhibition. ..to lie.-held in London, in 1924’, a strong’'commitfee was set up to deal with this matter, the millers fully realising that i’ e time had arrived when the products of this Dominion should !,.• more fully advertised in the Home markets, and that thi> yvt- nld be an excellent opportunity to obtain this end. It was,also, decided to renew the samples in all grades of hemp on exhibit at the X.Z. Court at the Imperial Institute. London. Tin* matter of the Northern and Southern Flaxinillefs’" Associations affiliating with the parent body was discussed and it was resolved to communicate with the other associations with this object in view.