FLAX DRESSING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 186, 9 August 1898, Page 2

FLAX DRESSING.

BONUS COMPETITION,

REPORT BY THE COMMISSIONERS.

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, this day.

Some time ago, the Government offered a bonus of £1,750 for a machine or process for cleaning New Zealand flax which should be an improvement on the machines and processes then in use, and should, after trial, be found to materially reduce the cost of production, improve the product or increase the quality of dressed fibre, and a second bonus of £250 for the best process of utilising the waste product. A Flax Commission was set np, composed of three experts, Messrs Robert Gardner, John Kutherferd, and Robert Duncan, and they were directed to report upon (1), the quantity of green flax operated upon; (2) the time required to dress it; (3) the colour of the fibre after dressing; (4) the weight and value of tho result; (5) the cost of the machine and its simplicity and durability, The Commissioners visited all parts of the celony to examine the devices for the treatment of phorcnium tenax, and their report shows that there were seventeen claimants for the first bonus, among whom were R. Chambers (Cambridge), H. :/J. -Sankey (Auckland), and T. R. Gillman (Onehunga). There were seven competitors for the second bonus, The Commissioners took up their commission on the 3rd May, and their report is dated the 9th June. By the time they bad started inspecting they found that several competitors had dropped out of the contest The Commissioners do not hesitate to record their opinion that for care in the dressing of flax the Southern mills take the palm from other parts of the colony. The Commissioners' apparently lean towards chemical processes, for the only hopeful process seen during their tour was that submitted by Mr T. R. Gillman, chemist, of Onehunga. They point out that hie process, if not a success, is tending in that direction, and continue: "Hitherto the cost of chemicals and the dark colour left in the fibre have prevented chemicals being used. MrGillman,however, hasnearlyannihilated the cost of chemicals, and has left a healthy ,w>lour. This is the result of many years experimenting. Had Mr Gillman proved to us that what he claims could be used to commercial advantage—and we are very much disposed to believe he can—we should have felt justified in awarding him a portion of the bonus. As the plant to produce a quantity will cost more than he caa welt afford, he thinks the Government might carry out his discovery to a. decided issue, and we would recommend the Government to arrange with Mr Gillman to do so. Mr S. S. Bestard, an Auckland chemist, had for many months been experimenting along somewhat similar lines to those of Mr Gillman, but using a different chemical, and this leads the Commissioners to remark that "If these chemical mechanical processes can be proved economical in fuel and chemicals the after manipulation is simplicity itself and the cost of bleaching and time will be much reduced." The concluding paragraph of the report covers the verdict upon applications for both bonuses. The Commissioners express regret that no practical demonstration of an improvement coming ■within the terms of the bonuses was submitted either for lessening the cost of production or by improving the quality of the fibre to secure a better price, still they think there is every hope that the chemical process will come nearer to what is wanted than anything yet discovered.