MANAWATU FLAXMILLERS’ ASSOCIATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3762, 3 March 1928, Page 3

MANAWATU FLAXMILLERS’ ASSOCIATION.

Further business transacted at Thursday’s meeting of the Manawatu Flaxmillers’ Association was as follows: MILLERS’ ADVISOR, Mr. Cockayne asked the Association if any benefit had accrued to the millers as a result of the Department sending -Mr. Fei’ris into the district as an, instructor. Mr. Ferris’s work was to visit the various mills and give any pdvise necessary and try and assist the millers. He was in no way connected with the grading however. Mr. W. Nye asked if there had been any difference in the returns since Mr. Ferris had been engaged on his new work. / Mr. Cockayne: A remarkable difference! Mi> A. Fraser said Mr. Ferris’s work had been highly beneficial, and he would like to see it continued. Mr. Rough: That is the view we hold. Mr. C. Speirs: It is a step in the right direction. Mr. Ferris is of great assistance to the millers, and has the respect and confidence of them all.

Mr. Wilson: He is doing a lot of good.

Mr. 'Cockayne said it was encouraging to hear such good reports. A little while ago there had been a strained feeling between millers and the Department, and he had hoped that this new idea would tend to bring the two together. The Chairman: The millers are on friendly terms with the Department now. Mr. Cockayne said that in future he intended to pass on to the Association any correspondence in connection with the industry received by the Department from other countries. The Chairman thanked Mr. Cockayne for his offer, which would prove very useful to millers. THE HIGH COMMISSIONER’S CABLE.

Mr. W. Nye referred to the fact that the High Commissioner’s cable, sent from London was very misleading. Last week it had stated that sales had been made in London at £33 10s and actually there ,liad been none.

Mr. Cockayne said that in the past the High Commissioner had been in the habit of cabling out sales that had taken place in London on afloat hemp. This was really of no use. to the New Zealand millers. Wihat they wanted to know was the price of hemp sold to brokers during the past week. This matter would have his immediate attention, and he would see to it that in future all afloat sales were cut out and the price cabled be that of maximum actual sales. GUAGE OF WIRE.

Mr. Moil- brought up the question of the necessity for using a heavier wire for labelling purposes as demanded by the Department. The trouble had arisen through an individual miller , using an inferior wire, and as a result all the millers were to be penalised if, the guage was to be increased. Samples of wire were submitted and Mr. Cockayne assured the meeting that there was no necessity to depart from the use of the 18 guage wire, which they had used for many years. The meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the chair.