FLAX-MILLING INDUSTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 11, 6 February 1909, Page 2

FLAX-MILLING INDUSTRY.

A iJILLKIi'S YJKWS. Hy lelcyrapli'—l J rcsß Association. .v., Last Night. Mi. N-iiert. tin- well-known llax-inillrr, in an interview tu-iliiv said that those industries tiiat are in competition with ( outside markets eaimut p-.Ks inereaseil eost, on to the consumer. Therefore they must iu tiie wall unless some elian*''e IS elleeted. Tlie [lax industry he said, is in exactly Uiis position, and tin- situation will have to be faced alike l>v employera and employees. The tendency to liKiease wiigc, limit extent of work npi'iciiliee, and hours, in industries for . ' J-'f'sitiiipliou or local demand must he seriously considered. He proceeded: It, means that one highly favoured body oi workers are exploiting those k'ss happily situated. There are (wo remedies one a return to natural conditions; tlie other, by a svs t Clu of hours l " we increased cost of production caused by the said artificial conditions; Unit is the workers as a whole ould be called upo;i to subsidise the industry to an amount equal to the increase m wayes due to such conditions., Hh regard to royalties, the taxation I wed upon flax lands to-dav emials, if t .locs not exceed, the royalty char-ed o millers when llax-iuillinj. is alleged to I'ave piiKl at .111 per ton.'' n connection with (he statement dial ■Hjix was made to pay at CM per lon, veVrm m"" I ''' 1 lv " R " i l " show H'at M. , ?" Mld Kt tiult l'™' l ' 'I 1 *" sl'owed by figures the steady rise in (I, e cost of production during the just lew years. "Jt is only those who have capital invested in (lie industry ■" l,c concluded i «ho know the seriousness of the |>l)s ;.' ion and the matter should be treated " lis a local, bui as a national .pics--0 , so (hat one of onr most valuable, J v industries may be ; ievened."