1.—12 d.

28

[j. J. REICH.

It is hard enough for them now to grade to the ten points, according to the point of view of the miller. 103. Hon. Mr. Duncan.] Do you find that you would get on an average bales from three mills, say, from different parts of the Wellington District, that would correspond to any sample you might choose ?—I do not say that the length of the fibre, or the strength of it, or anything of that kind would correspond, but, as far as dressing is concerned, stripping, scutching, washing, and bleaching, why should there be any difficulty in getting millers to deliver up to the standard bales on those points ? I understand some of them now, by regulating their machinery, can raise or lower their points. They grade to what they have to deliver. If they had a standard bale to go by, and the men were responsible for turning out the fibre, they would have no difficulty in working up to that standard, and you would get greater uniformity in the quality of the flax than now. 104. You are well aware of the number of conditions that go to make these points: first and foremost, some of the green flax is of a different quality from others ?—Yes. .105. Then, there is bleaching, drying, and so forth. I suppose three or four or five things have to be reckoned with. There are always variations of these, so that it is a difficult thing to do?: —You cannot get up to the exact points, but with a ten-point margin it would be very difficult for the Grader to go very far wrong in the points he gives to the scutching or the stripping if he has got that standard bale by him to refresh his memory. Supposing a miller has been away, and his men have got careless during his absence —that the stripping, scutching, and so on are behind —he thinks his men have been acting fairly, and that when he gets a lower number of points it is an error on the part of the Graders, fie would soon settle the matter by visiting the grading-sheds and comparing his flax with the standard bales. It would be an infinite advantage to all. parties to have standard bales, and would tend to uniformity in quality. 106. Have you heard of any complaints yourself about length of fibre? —We have not been troubled with any. 107. I am holding a letter here complaining?— The standard bales would prevent a miller from putting in stuff that would be likely to have points knocked off for short length. Hon. Mr. Duncan: Here is a letter from a manufacturer at Home, in which he says, "We think an order should be issued to your Graders to pay special attention to the length of the fibre. Short fibre leads to very bad work from a manufacturer's point of view." 109. The Chairman.] It has been stated here that it would be desirable to have a manufacturer as Grader. Do you think that would be desirable? —I would not like to express any opinion upon that. It is rather a technical question. Alfred Seifert, Flax-miller, Palmerston North, further examined. Witness: When the Flax-millers' Association in the Wellington District advocated a range of ten points in each quality it was with the idea of making the grading uniform, and to do away with fifteen points for "fair," and only five for "superior," as at present. The fifteen points for " fair " has caused a great deal of trouble. To get a uniform range of ten points the grades will have to be—" Common," 50 to 59; " Fair," 60 to 69; " Good Fair," 70 to 79; " Fine," 80 to 89; "Superior," 90 to 99. Though we advocate this alteration in the points, we do not want the quality of "good fair "to be altered. " Fair " will remain the same, except for five points off the lower end. " Fair " under the alteration would be equal to the present grade of "Fair," between 65 and 74 points. Of course, "common" would rise five points in the grade. That would be equal to the present 55 to 64 points. What is below " common " we wish to be allowed to export. That could be called "very inferior," or some other name that would be suitable. 110. Hon. Mr. Duncan.] Do you think the millers can tell generally when they put their bales on the wagon for Wellington what they should class?—To within two or three points, I cannot. I do hold that there has been a slight rise in the standard going back over the last three years. I claim to have some experience, passing as we do 2,0U0 tons through our hands. We have mills from the Waikato down to the Bluff. I think there has been a rise from two to three points. I think it would be good to have those sample bales. The hemp will keep when properly pressed. I have hanks five or six years old. The Graders saj that there has been no alteration in the standard. Sample bales would prove it. 111. Those hanks of yours are not continually touched? —I do not think that it would be necessary to handle the sample bales. I do not need to handle them. In most cases if I see a hank hanging up on the wall I can tell to a couple of points the quality it is. George Bichan, Flax-miller, Mataura, examined. (No. 12.) Witness: What I would express an opinion mostly on is grading. I think the points in " common " should be raised from sixty to sixty-seven, and " fair " sixty-eight to seventy-four, and "good fair "as at present —seventy-five to eighty-five. Ido not think it should be altered from sixty to seventy and seventy to eighty as suggested. The " fair " would be too high, and I think anything graded below sixty should be stopped from being exported altogether. 112. The Chairman.] Anything below "common"—what would be called "condemned"? Yes. Ido not think, it is a hardship on millers to have to turn out over sixty points. Down to sixty points "good fair " is generally hard to get, but I do not think it is any trouble for any man to turn out over that; and I think the Government should have a man going around instructing flax-millers as to what are really the requirements. Many times they start without knowing the requirements. They get what they call an expert, and he probably knows no better than, they do; they are only wasting their money on flax, and have no benefit from it. In reference to sample bales, I think it would be a good idea; it would cut down any disputes between flax-millers and Graders.