THE FLAX INDUSTRY IN WAIKATO.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1793, 3 January 1884, Page 2

THE FLAX INDUSTRY IN WAIKATO.

Tt is a matter for regret that more attention has not been given to this inclnstiy in the Waikato dit>tiict. Considering the comparatively small cost of the raw mateiial, its great abundance, the low cost of preparing it for the market, the limited amount of capital required to start and carry on the industry, and the large price and ready market obtained for the prepared ai tide, it is, indeed, surprising that the dormant enterprise of some of our settlers has not been aioused to a sense of its importance. It is worthy of notice, however, that while the settleis of this district have not turned their attention to this remunerative industry, alaige number of people are making a very good livelihood through it in the Taukau, Pokeno, and Mercer districts. At Taukau there are no less than six mills, all doing a thriving business, and employing a fairly large number of hands. At rokeno there are three mills, at Meicer one, and at Razor Back one, of which the same may be said. In starting these mills a few industriouspeoplewithamoderate amount of capital generally combine, or else the enterprise is taken in hand by families, and, consequently, there being no middle man, the industry is a very paying one. Indeed, we have been assured that the return is usually cent, per cent, on the outlay. There is always a good local market, and ■ the prices received do not vary much. The flax is usually gathered by the natives,' who use their canoes for the purpose, and on bringing a cargo of it to the mill are rewarded with a good price for their labour, usually between £3 and £4 a ton. It then takes about £3 to prepare it, and notwithstanding the difference in weight between the raw and the prepared article, ' the amount received for the latter, about £20 a ton,?is a sufficiently good price to ensure a handsome profit. Again all the mills are worked, by water power, whioh materially keepa, down the cost of preparation. As fully three months expire before the flax, from the time it is gathered, is ready for the market, it will bs s geon4h t atthe producer' is obliged to y U«SQU<; of ss WQP.«y toy some, tiwe j 'but i

#c tftfsk the handsome pr^fifcWhiol^e'reV 1 "ceivea* is sufficient to^'TjalajiCe i ' this. Those engaged in the j,*iodustry* about Tuakauand rokerio have* ityw undertaken .the nlxkihg of matting, which,' we 'are glad to notice, is being' used by the railway department in the first-class carriages on the Waikato line in the place of the cocoanut matting hitherto in uso. We were very pleased to notice, a ' short time ago, that a flaK mill had been started by Messrs Bvcroft Bros, on the bank (if the Waipa river near Ngamawahia, and that the enterprise of these gentlemen has since been attended with success. As we have before lomarked, both the market and the return are huge, and we consider the iudustry is one which should receive m >re notice at the hands of our settlei a. A few industrious men, with a little capital to ereat a mill, with the necessary machinery, to parry on for a few month*, could, we beheve, make a very handsome profit in thib puraiiit. Another great considerain its favour is the number of natives which it employs, and as the remuneration which they receive is considerable, the establishment of a number of mills in our midbt might be means of eliciting the latent energy and increasing the industry of thdt people.