INVENTIVENESS NEEDED TO HELP FLAX INDUSTRY

Shannon News, 10 August 1928, Page 3

INVENTIVENESS NEEDED TO HELP FLAX INDUSTRY

Also Discovery of New Uses for fibre ANNUAL KEPOBT OF MILLEKS 7 ASSOCIATION The report of the Presidont (Mr. H. A. Seifert) to be presented to the annual meeting of the Now Zealand Flaxmillers' Association forecasts a lean year for the industry. The Year's Activities. Dealing with tbo paft year's efforts, the Presidont states.—'*'Eaily in the year we had to oppose a claim for a considerable increase in wages. The easo finally went before the Arbitration Court which awarded a alight increase in .some piece-work rates and raised the 'minimum hourly-rate from 1/9 to 1/lof—a shilling a clay increase. This raised cost of production on a falling market. Later in 1927 there was set up in Parliament a Labour Bill committee and the Association urged that the industry be exempted from the Arbitration Act as Avere other farming industries. This was not done. The personal relationship of employers and employees has been satisfactory throughout the year. At present , negotiations are taking place between the Manawatu Flaxworkcrs' Union and j the Association to reduce costs owing to serious depression in the market. Grading. '

An innovation was ma'de in March last by the Department of Agriculture approaching a linson officer to aid millers and graders to a better understanding. The move has proved a popular one with millers generally. Due to this and also because of the sample hanks scheme, there has been less friction between graders and millers than in the past.. Undoubtedly the great trouble is the very mixed nature Of the hemp submitted for. grading. This causes the greater part of the differences of opinion. Some people claim that a mixed hemp should be graded purely on the average of its. hanks. They say that in a rope quite 64 separate strands of fibre are pre sent at any one point an'd that this effects complete blending. On the other hand our competitors all send out straight lines and '* this will un doubtedly educate the consumer to expect such. Our not doing so will certainly prejudice New Zealand hemp in the world's market. At present one firm is completely classing its output which amounts to about 10 per cent, of the New Zealand total. Also a few other producers arc partly classing their output. For the benefit of the industry some organisation needs to bo evolved enabling all hemp exported to be classed into Straight lines containing hanks of one grade only." Scientific Research. ,

Early last year the Department of Scientific and Industrial Boseareh ap pointed two young students of great promise to engage in flax researeh. Messrs. Aitken and Yeates, taking the chemical and" botanical studies respectively. The Department carried on for some months and then approached the Association to set up a proper organisation to conlrol this research committee. This committee will consist oi two appointees" of the Department, both/scientific gentlemen, one of the Department of Agriculture, four fiaxmillers, and a further two yet to be appointed by the committee itself. To provide finance a levy is to be made upon all hemp and tow exported from the Dominion at 2d. per bale on hemp and I'd. on tow. This should providi about £7OO to £SOO per' annum. The Government subsidy of £ for £ double* the sum. With -this fund and all the organisations of the Research Depart ment to aid us, the industry should most certainly, develop its methods during the future. The Past Season.,

Contrary to expectations, the output was higher than for the previous year For' ' ,12 months ending 31st March. 1928 there were graded 89,130 bales of hemp. This equals 17,650 tons. My personal estimate had been 1(5,500 a; stated in your last annual report. Thr season's output amounts to 83 per cent of the pre-war average. The value oi millers' receipts f.o.b-. basis, would' b; about £5.12,000, almost £2 per ton loavoj than for previous year. Prices fell steadily throughout the year ami after beginning at about £2B/10/- for '' H Fair," had dropped at the close of tho season by about £2. per ton. The quality did not average well OAving to great percentage of '' Low Fair" from Auckland and the. Bluff. These two ports kept up the output last season by increasing their gradings over 1926-27 by 5,000 and 4,000 bales respectively. Wellington province Avas down by 7,000 bales. Methods.

There is little to report upon as to improvements in methods, Even more important than bettering quality is the need to reduce costs. The industry needs mcchamcalising. During pasl fifteen years little improvement has 'been made except in detail. The most noteworthy machine of the season ia Ma'ddrens" washing machine. ,This has been developed by Maddren Bros, at their flaxmill in Canterbury. One is now being installod in the Manawatu and will doubtless bo of great interest to North Island millers. The machine seems most promising. A number of improved automatic scrutchers have been installed this season; being those with the hook grip. Looking Ahead.

For the coming season we must by

ill portents receiye rather low prices,— probably about the same as ruled during 1913-15. This will mean a lean year for the industry. The hemp market is famous for its ups and downs, :o possibly within a year real improvement will take place; maybe we will then receive a year or two of really prices. But it "is unreasonable to expect to get prices to average 70 per cent, above pro-Avar. Yet this is less than the average increase in our costs of production. We must make every endeavour to lower our costs. By great'care in management, and' above all, inventiveness. More and more we must mechanicalise our operations.

Cultivated flax will probably enable mechanical cutting which would reduce costs greatly. Also a higher percentage of fibre in fiax ivould lower costs per ton of hemp. The coming years will sec a gradual transition from natural to cultivated flax producing the bulk of our hemp. Yellow loaf disease, stocking with cattle, fires, anrl clearing for grass, gradually reduce the flax from natural areas and Avill continue so to do. , But many years are to pass before cultivated flax displaces the present fields. So wo must realise the present and carry on. Improved methods will be of advantage I upon either flax, so too will fresh consumers be desirable. Our programme j must include some considerable effort J directed to discoveries of new uses for j the products of the industry. j