THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2092, 30 August 1890, Page 1

THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

The committee appointed to inquire into:' the flax industry bare recom-- ] mended : That the Govern m'enf should offer a bonus of £IO,OOO for the en- 1 couragemeht of the flax industry, to "be devoted to the following purposes : (a) For a process of , which will reduce the cost ot production ; (b) far a process which will improve the quality ef the dressed fibre, making it- suitable for textile purposes; (c) for a mode 1 of utilising the waste products of the : industry. Appended 'will be found regulations by the Committee; underV which the bonus can be earned. That steps be taken to establish a classification at the port of exportj'.to vbe (undertaken I by inspectors appointed by the Govern- ' ment, and that the Government should

confep-with Aetopjjnillertfpr thejpurposel ofufraroing regujations. They recommend before them be printed : in pamphlet form, together: literature to c be prints tod distributed.! Max-ownen should therefore be strongly ! urged to give' l instructions i to•' their cutten to cut in* such aimanner as to;leave the heartj of thei." fla* if»■■!? uninjured; It? is i very desirable ithat+;: attention should be -given* to the planting ,and cultivation > of i the t bes varieties < of New'oZealand -. flax.ri wi% fa view- to the productionof a fibre of ebipenor quality. The market; pricfe in 'London is ; p.rer judicially7affected by 1 < a-single?-bate, and .flaxmillertf sholldtexerciseocare m this 1 Flax* fibre; shipped damp' or'wet is not liable to spontanedUß combu»tioni ; butrthat dampnert has the effect of sotstlTiously discoloring the'fibr* as to render it 1 almost valueless 1 ©ir reaching >fche borne market.' If the are carriedkout it' will rasult'in •• the"flax iriduatry becoming one 'of very great' importance to the colony.' Tlie follb#in^ a v bonWcdnditiens l fdr tbe enedurHgfement 1 1 u of " th'e 1 ' flat :i inouitr? Anyone apply l irig' '!* j the' bonds' mft submit his proceiirto be tested before three * commissiondra who ehalfc be appeirited by i Government > (2) That tbe're shall ba a prpductiorvjof not less than 10 tons of ■■?dressed .fibre,. ,(3) Taking the presenfrcost of fibre at £l6 at the ship's side, if the commissionera are -satisfied that the -process reduces! the ! edit at the ship's side of good! dressed ; fibre ! equal to superior New Zealand: to £7 10s (or halftbe present| cost) that they shall recommend the sum'of £4OOO belpaid to the inventor, and if ' they think fit, besides such bonus : may ;f recommend that, (< the inventor be allowed to retain/bis r rjght to require a royalty per ton f who use the process. (4);-/ If the process'reduces the.cost at the ehip,4 side to any juniper ton-between £l6 arid £7 10s, then' the commissioners mayoaward .the sum of £IOOO or sucti proportion'tbeYedf. as 1 they/may think fit! (6) If ithe-commissioners,! are satisfiedthatwnyiprocess has inatexially improved .the! (quality. of: the dressed fibre ! byi £lO oer tonj and rendered it suitable! or teitile-purposes, they may recommend that£2soo be.pai<J-to f the or Buck'proportion thereof as i they think ; best; . may Tecommend ttiatbesiditftthebonus the'inventor be to retain'his riighfcto.require a royalty;'pertratfroto tfaQs^ 1 who use Tbe;<bonu* for tbe best 1 meads'* of utilising! i the .tfaste the -flau industry, shall! not exceed'£2doo,-and-shall: be paid fora process"which, 1 besides making frttban article of'profifeto producers; sh'all so utilise '7s' per scent of the waste-as to makß'ita profitable! and iisef ulfcrtiele of comrtferee $ such process- to be subany testthe commissioners may think fit, audit shall be ■ within their ptiWer' to I'awards the ? whole: or any portion of such' bonus < as they '1 think fit." (8) ! ( Allf .'applications for «ueb bond& to l be sentin on or before a date! to be 'fixed by *no commissioners. ; -. all applicants to accept the award' of thej cdmuiwsioners.arid also to agree to' charge no higher' royalty ;per> ton than 1 the commissioners mayrfix. r .■: < |