FLAX IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY OF IRELAND.

New Zealander, Volume 3, Issue 177, 9 February 1848, Page 3

FLAX IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY OF IRELAND.

On Friday a deputation from the Royal Society tor the Promotion and Improvement of the growth of Flax iv Ireland, compos d of the Eurl of Erne, Mes>r-i. John Slmrman Crawford, Johr. Herdman, S. R. Mvi hollaad, *nd J. Mic Adam, waited on his Excellency the Lord Lieutmant, at tlie Viceregal Lodge,J to present an adddresis of congrntulation on hii Excellency's

appointmeut to the government of this country, and to solicit that his Excellency would be graciously pleased to accept of the office of vice-patron of the society. On arriving at the Viceregal loo'gfj the deputation were conducted by Captain Henry Ponsonby, A.D.C., to the room appointed for their reception, into which his Excellency shortly after entered, accompanied by the Chief Secretary, Sir William Somerville, when Mr. James MacAdam, the secretary of the society, read the address. , Mr. Mar Adam, after having read the address, said, that he had been requested by the M irquis of ])ownshire to sute tha h the noble marquis would feel most happy in being of the deputation, but that being unavoidably detained in London, his absence from Ireland had debarred him of tlie pleasure. His Excellency, on receiving the address from the hands of Mr. MacVdatn, said that he accepted with great satisfaction the mark of distinction they hid conferred upon him by proposing to him to become the Vice-Patron lot the Flax Improvement Society of Ireland. He was aware of the efforts they had made, ; and the success which had attended their laudable exertions. He attached the greatest importance to the \ cultivation of fl,iT, because it afforded the means of creating and spreading a spirit ot industry in Ireland, and he felc the more interest in it on account of its being the particular branch of agriculture most closely connected with that puticular branch of manufacture, the linsn trade, for which Ireland had been famous as an exporting country. As a free trader, he thought that there should be no restriction placed on the pioduce of other countries, however remote from Great Britain ; and the principle of which he approved was, that they should buy in fie cheapest and sell in the dearest markets, but that did not prevent his desiring to see the productions of his own country cheaper, and in all respects superior to those of oilier countries. Under their auspices he hoped they should yet see the linen manufacture flourish throughout the country. Notwithstanding that their climate w,is highly favour able to the production of n\ix — .hat their psasaniry were as laboiious, and their artisans as ingenious as those of any other country— with all these advantage* he saw, wiih great regret, that the people of Great Britain and Ireland were tributaries to foieign countries in the amount of five <>r six millions annually, for an article which could be abundantly produced at hoaae, the manufac ure of which would be a source of wealth to the country, and the consumption of winch would confer the blessings of remuneiative employment on our own artisuns. He, theieforj, looked upon the growth of flax, and the manufacture of linens in Ireland as of imperial importance ; and there was nothing that the deputation could point out to him, either as vice patron of the society, or in his official capacity, by which their objects could be advanced, and the manufacture o( linen promoted, in which they mi^ht not be assured of his cordial co-operation. His Excellency concluded by asking the deputation if they had any buggebtion to make by which he could be ol use to the society. Mr. Mulholland said there was one matter not immed'a ely in reference to the production of flux, but in reference to linens, the staple manufacture of Ireland. That trade had •uff.red gieat depression bectuse of the advantages which foreign countries possessed. Fiance, I although she possessed the privilege of export'ng linens, duty free, into Great Britain, had imposed a duty on the importation of Iriih lioens into her markeis. If the government could at all enter into an arrangement to effect a settlement of the River PJate question, it would ba of great benefit to the north of lieland. His Excellency said he perfectly agreed in the opinion as to the mischief which incieased duty in Frauce was calfula'.ed to effect. The represe itation that had been made on the subject had as yet failed of producing a s.itisfactoiy result; but the government could not preicdbc a rule of action to other countries, for every country would be guided by what it thought best for its own interests. Fiance was very protective, no doubt, and the Chamber did not seem disposed to relax in their re- trictio/js. It would appear that they at present could not do it. The government w s doing all that lay in its power to bring about an adjustment of those restrictions, and he had no doubt that m time, and by the force of our example, the advantages of a more liberal intercourse with England would be better appreciated in France. With regard to the River Plate, the government had taken measures from which a, satisfactory conclusion might be expected, but with regard to Mexico no one could tell how soon ordor would issue out of the chaos that existed in. tint country. Mr. Mulholland said that the branch of trade which they represented was a great national manufacture, and the United Kingdom was almost entirely indebted to foreign countiies for the raw materials of every mannfactuie but ilut of linen. The Ins.b posse-.s°,d the raw material for the most important branch of manufacture, independent of the woild. In Spain, ' and Brazil, and the western coast of Southern America, the inhabitants were all anx'ous to use iin. n, ana he would respectfully suggest that, if the government would interfere on behalf of the Irish liueu manufacture, the article might be introduced into those countries at a lower ssale of duty. His Excellency said that, of late year*, negotiations had been carried on in Spain with the object of placing the commercial relations with that country upon a sounder footing ; but it should be borne in mind that however much we were dependent for linens, we were still more dependent for flax, on foreign countries. It was not the custom to negotiate for, or put forward any particular article to the special notice of any foreign gove-nment, in the international communications which arose on questions of trade; but, with respect to the article of Irish linens, he would promise, on the part of the government, that whenever a question should arise, in which that intere B ting branch of industry could form the subject of discussion, it should command the best and most earnest attention of the ministers of the crown. Mr. Mulholland— -Then, your Excellency, we have j attained all we desired by that expression on your pttrt. The deputation then withdrew, evidently well pleased with the result of their interview.