FLAXMILLERS’ ASSOCIATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3669, 23 July 1927, Page 3

FLAXMILLERS’ ASSOCIATION.

The annual meeting of the New Zealand Flaxmillers’ Association, was held at Palmerston North yesterday, presided over by Mr. H. A. Seifert. Also present were: A. Seifert, A. A. Brown, H. Seifert, J. S. Moir, H. Berry, W. Nye and A. Fraser. The chairman presented the following report: Our Association has now been in existence for some 22 years, during which period many changes have come about in our industry; in methods of manufacture, in the prosperity and in the status of the industry. So too, have the fortunes of our Association varied. For a long period we had a strong and enthusiastic membership, then we lost many old members without gaining new ones. At this annual meeting to-day you will be asked to confirm a resolution that we hope will greatly increase our member-, ship, and so our prestige. We hope to become a real New Zealand Association, while so far, we have been largely a Manawatu Association. Millers all over the Dominion are anxious to join this body under the proposal contained in the be-fore-mentioned resolution.

As set out in our constitution, the Association exists for the benefit of the flax industry. It is in fact the united voice of the industry. Unless we are united in our support, never shall our wishes be heard, as we may sometimes need and desire thexn to, be. it belioves us therefoi'e, to give our Association support. Every miller should be a member, even though he take no part in our committee. Strength of membership is necessary. The pafet. year has been a fairly active one. Last August our delegates met the Union delegates re scutching without, pressing, and a mutually satisfactory settlement was reached, j In January a big conference was "Convened by us in Wellington to discuss grading questions. A large attendance fully representing all districts was recorded and a recommendation was made that such a Dominion Conference be held annually. In March last the Flaxworkers’ Union demanded an increase in wages. Our committee met the Union in Conciliation Council. Conditions were settled but tbe question of wages and overtime was referred to the Arbitration Court. The award was announced on the 91h of this month and as you all know some slight increases will he made later.

A REVIEW OF THE INDUSTRY FOR THE PAST YEAR.

Quite a good output is to be recorded amounting to approximately 17,570 tons, the value of which was about £553,000. The value was based upon prices credited to the miller for liemp sold on f.o.b. basis and the value of tow and slips has been Included therein. The quantity is about 81 1-3 per cent, of the pre-war average, and was GOO bales below that of the previous year. •The quality of this year’s production'has graded a little below the average of previous years. Most millers are of the opinion that this is due to the hardening of the grading standard, and not to any extent due to carelessness in handling or to a poorer quality leaf. The small premium offered for better grades during the, latter half of the year especially, did not encourage millers to go to much expense in pursuit of extra* quality. Prices throughout the year have been steady but not high. The 1926 winter price was the best received during winter for several years past. This is rather strange, for one.would have expected the great coal strike to have lowered the market. The summer price for tbe last season was not as good as usual and the last few months prices have not been as 1 good as we would wish.

During the past year further flax planting companies have been formed, mainly in the Auckland province. Also two well-known and old-established flaxmilling concerns of the Manawatu have been formed into public companies. Never before has the industry been so much in the public eye. Methods have also undergone some change. Perhaps of great importance is the abandonment of .side-leaf ■ cutting and reversion to hook cutting by the three largest firms that had adapted side-leaf cutting. Flax haulage by rail-trac-tor has not yet come into use to any great extent, but trials are continuously being made in this direction. The tractor is being increasingly used for the haulage of scattered flax in the mills. The almost universal use of electric power is a great advance, a considerable economy being effected thereby. Stripping methods remain as ‘before. Many experiments have been carried out with washing the fibre, also with artificial bleaching and air drying. The scutching process has received some attention and an improved model of . an early automatic has been installed in several mills. This is the patent hook-grip scutcher. Another movement of considerable importance is the effort that has been manifested at several mills to class the fibre into the grades before baling. Our fibre is the only one not so classed before export. the COMING YEAR. W|e must endeavour to increase otir membership so as to become a fully representative association. Our future activities shall probably lie in the fields of cost reduction, scientific research and grading. Prices cannot he expected to be nreatly improved, so costs must somehow be reduced. One is struck with the irony of our Arbitration

Court system, which raises wages without regard to the state of the industry.

The output will probably be a little lower than last year owiug to the abandonment of side-leaf cutting and a closure of marginal mills. These are mills who run upon scattered areas of flax when conditions arc favourable to the industry. About 16,500 tons will probably be the output for the coming year and the quality should be about equal ' to that of last year. Flax planting is expected to exceed all previous records, as probably from 500 to 1000 acres will be planted in the coming year. At the same time, for the next five, or six or eight years natural flax will supply almost the whole of our output.

The Government last year formed a most excellent institution known 'as the Scientific and Industrial Research Council, the purposes of which is to co-operate with the industry in making a scientific study of its problems. The flax ihdustry has several problems that would well repay such study. So far we have collaborated with the. Council but the question of so doing in future, deserves our earnest thought. Two problems are outstandingly important and worthy of investigation. They are: Firstly, artificial bleaching and drying. This is the millers greatest opportunity to cheapen production with probably an improvement,in quality. Secondly, development of additional uses for our fibre. Textile and paper manufacture offer splendid possibilities in view of increasing production. We should theefore look ahead in search of further uses for our fibre. If we are able to develop these satisfactorily then this industry should develop beyond anything we may visualise at present. HEMP GRADING. Is regard to hemp grading it was resolved that the Department of Agriculture be written to, asking them to, supply hanks for the Association; similar to the grades held by the Department, to be in the charge of the executive of the Association, who should he responsible for their care. It was further resolved that the Department be written to, asking when it is proposed to give effect to the resolution carried at a representative meeting of merchants, flaxmillers and hemp spinners, held at Wellington on January, 21, 1927. The resolution in question was: “That the Department- of Agriculture be asked to have samples of all grades prepared and shown suitably in the Dominion; that the samples be sealed and opened in the presence of recognised authorities only, and that a fee of £1 be paid by millers disputing the grading when the dispute involves the unsealing of the samples.” Those present at the meeting, it was stated, had been assured by the representative of the Department that the resolution would be put in-, to effect. GENERAL BUSINESS.

A committee was set up to go into the matter of medical inspection of injured and to further bring the matter before Chambers of Commerce, local bodies and all interested bodies. All millers outside the Wellington province are to be invited to join the Association at a reduced fee of £1 Is. A committee was set up to go into the matter of a bonus for improved methods of flaxmilling. The president is to convene a meeting especially for this purpose. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows: — President, Mr. H. A. Seifert; vicepresident, Mr. J. S. Moir; treasurer, Mr. A. Fraser; committee, Messrs A. Ross, A. A. Brown, H. Berry, W. Nye, H. Seifert, A. Seifert, C. H. Speirs, C. Petersen and F.F. Newman; auditor, Mr. R. A. Fuller.