FLAX INDUSTRY RETARDED.

Shannon News, 17 July 1923, Page 4

FLAX INDUSTRY RETARDED.

GRANT FOR EXPERIMENTAL WORK Ui inadequate. A4Tf TAYRS’ FINAL PLEA. Summarising the arguments ad-

duced at a special meeting of the executive of the Faxmillers’ Association on Friday, the Government in its recent decision to grant an extia duty of 6d per ton on hemp graded, and that the amount be subsidised £ for £ up to £290, is obviously not cognisant of the great importance of the industry, it being the unanimous opinion of millers that the amount provided for was totally inadequate, Mr A. Seifert presided, and there were also present Messrs It. T. Den, A Ross, J. H. Stevens, H. Berry, W. Nye, and H. Akers, Mr Seifert, after the wire conveyI ing the Government’s decision had been read, said that it would bo har - ly necessary to recount what had led to the present position, becauso it was fairly common knowledge. He could only say that he was disappointed at the reply. The millers had put their hands in their own pockets because they knew they could do something for a most important industry.. In the first place they had approached the Government and secured £l5O, but tne second ye.ar nothing was forthcoming from the Government at all, and the latest grant offered absolutely no solution to the difficulty. He referred to the recent inspection of Miranui, when there were present representatives of Parliament, flaxmillers, chamber of Commerce, and County Councils. The Minister and his confreres were well satisfied with the results achieved m experimental work. The millers had asked Parliament fur £IOOO, and explained that they would be prepared to allow 6d per ton for the purpose of providing a portion of the amount asked for. What the 1 millers wanted was, mainly, security, without which, if a crisis occurred in

the industry, the position would be 'most precarious, Mr R T. Bell referred to the tact that even the merchants had made subscriptions, proving conclusively that they were impressed by what was being done, and its effect on the industry. HC was bitterly disappointed at the efforts of the Government, particularly in view of the striking information which had been placed before. , it. Past figures, he said, showed how the Stale had benefited by the revenue brought in, but if the industry were allowed to fade now, all that revenue ■would be lost, together with the large areas of land which would diminish m productive capacity. When they had just got the problem near solution, by 1 the modern methods adopted, it was most discouraging to find they were hampered by lack of support. ‘He also referred to the great efforts which Mr Seifert had made. A Mr J. H, Stevens: “What is the minimum amount which you would require?” Mr Seifert explained that it would require £IOOO per annum, but, cutting their needs to an absolute minimum, they might be able to scrape along on £7OO. - Mr Stevens asked if they couild not effectively place a tax, say, of a penny on green flax; Assuming that eight tons of green flax only yielded one ton of dressed flax he suggested that, as a means .of raising the money, a tax could be imposed on green flax of a penny per ton. This would realise £386, added to a tax of 8d per ton on dressed flax, which would bring m £386, and a Government subsidy of £386, they would have a total of £llsß. This, of course, would imposo a double charge on those who milled their own flax, but even so, their , tax would be only £6 13/4 per 100 tons .of fibre. . Mr Seifert said that when sitting at Palmerston North, the Science Congress had suggested that at least £SOOO per annum would be necessary, lhe Government, however, had never been altogether sympathetic. In taxes they had paid out no less than 17 per cent, of the gross takings—no,t profits and yet, in asking the Government to give a little, it had treated them unfairly. Mr H. Akers touched on the manner in which many people overlooked the value of flax areas. “They say, ‘Yes, it will carry so many sheep,’ or ‘it is good for dairying,’ but very seldom consider its potentialities in its bearing on flax ” Mr Seifert said that if New Zealam was solely a dairying country, many people would clear out. ' . Mr „ Bell: “Well, we have got to thi3 stage—the offer ’is ridiculous, and it is now a question of whether it will behove us to abandon our efforts, or whether the Government will subsidise us in a substantial way.” The secretary (Mr R. H. Spencer; stated that they had spent to. date on experimenting with the yellow-leaf disease £7 50, there being a deficit of

£97 in this connection. Mi* Stevens said he caulcl not see any insurmountable difficulty in collecting on green flax. .Air Seifert considered that they had hitherto proved their case. The experiments had revealed great possibilities, and there were many, indeed, , who would take up flax planting, if given sufficient encouragement. Of course, new men would be better off. than the present growers. Mr Bell said- the matter was not a one-sided or personal one, but a national question. He moved to the effect that they* could not see their way to continue the experimental work unless £IOOO per year was forthcoming; also to communicate with members of Parliament. __ ' Mr Seifert 'referred to the promising work which had been done, the fruits of which were being- absorbed nationally. Tremendous work had been carried out and they had been glad to do it, further, they had foregone profits in order to reach a point by pioneering. _ The motion was carried. co