The Flax Industry. [From Nelson Evening Mail.]

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 379, 22 June 1889, Page 2

The Flax Industry. [From Nelson Evening Mail.]

We lately an article from. ,f, f heNow Zealand Times on the prospects of thetrade in New Zealand fl ix. An article hns. since appeared in the Wellington Evening ; Press denying fehe statements inadem the former newspaper that there waa littld chance of a greatly increased output of manilla fibre in the next two-years . TtreEvening Pres» quotes froui circnJarn issued at mnniii* during the present year by Messrs Hindloy and Co. In those- cir«- ' culars are given- thq nmn-ber of bains .received by the manilla merchants from* January Ist up to the respective dates of circular for tbe'veais 188^, 1888 s , 'and 1839' They are is folloWs C— • ' - « s

(The number of, bales .of ninnil la shipped! from January Ist to' March Is:h in the* three years was:-—

The figure* appear to .show, pretty.. plainly I that the Phillipine Islanders aie, not quite- ■ so stand-still a people as they hay** been? made out to be, and Unit they have the disposition and the powor te take advantage of the iricreused- prices. The Evening ProHs, however, seems' to go- too far* It advises those about to engage in the flix industry to found their calculations on a bassis of a London price of £20 per ton*, and noHrnQre'.^^'lt *ioaintaips that almost the only use mad 9 of New Zealand flax is to adulterate manilla, on account of the 'unusually, high .price, of .the -latter., ./-That znignt r »have?been*the > case.at one time, but it is so no longer. The difference between •th« prices of 'the two-fibre's is. much smaller ! than.it used; to be. ? At one time the irmnillfv used to bringsalmop^ double the price of New Zealand flax. At piWentour fibre is ! -worth about 72 per cent of the value of" [ thei other. The Evening P^oss predict* that manilTa'will fall to wKa't it considersthe normal price of £30 to £35, but at the present proportion^ of prices New Zealand flux would 'not even then fall to £20. Thearticle leaves out of .account the numerousfresh purposes 4:o l which the flax is put; Captain Webb, -American Vice-Oonsul in Auckland, lias written a letter on the sub* jectto the New Zealand Herald. He says. that the United States offer 'a market for thousands and thousands of tons annually,, provided it be of good quality. But com- ! plaints are numerous* as to the bad quality of a great deal senttfo America. Dishonest tricks, such a,s putting good flax, on theou'tside of bales, and bad :and rotten, stuffy and even stones^ inside seem to go on- to a great extent. It s is notorious also that a. ! great deal of' carelessly prepared flax is, sent to England, which, on its arrival, will i prove to be, nearly wortliloss. Such, practices seem' even- a greater source of danger to the trade than any possible rival. Tho New Zealand flax is now on, Jts trial, and a rare, opportunity is offered of establishing the , manufacture and export as a settled industry! , It,\fiH b& a severe misfoptunß to tlJe* whole Cojlony if such aii Opportunity is frittered away by tho selfiskdishonesty of- a f e^JiV' manuf ac««. ture^or dealers. -,„"• |

1 '''witLTH'E- DEMAND FOR &LAX LA^T * > V (From Wellington JS,&sUil)i 1 " Am'ei'ifcan bind^v-txvine ''manufrVcturers (•ave,been:;heayy. Uu^jey&'^of "'New Zealand Jietup lately^ and these oV^ers have beea enlarged because some Americans went in< for a big sit»ul and majwito combination to raise prices. . Prices Kccpidingly havebeen, ruised. ', . AB;twina.hag already digplaced, and i» still farther displacing, wire in reaper and binder maohines, flns: is in most demand, by manufacturers

iooi . 13,758 J-OOOi 122,429 XUOi7. 155,439

1887; „.,1888, ,-V, 1889, Feb. 15 ... 47,926 G4.065 88^71 March 15..:. 84,620' 115,185 134,760