THE FLAXMILLING INDUSTRY.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 53, 3 March 1919, Page 6

THE FLAXMILLING INDUSTRY.

A SERIOUS POSITION. SEVERAL CLOSED MILLS. 2,000 MEN IDLE. The position in respect to the cloning . down of the flaxmills in the Lower AVaikato has been very fully reviewed by ■ one of the allected owners. He stated that whereas shipping charges fi om England had now been reduced to prewar rates, namely ranging from £1 15/ to £o per ton for merchandise, no sich alteration had been made for experts from New Zealand. Pre-war freight ige to London was £3 15/ per ton, but the existing rate was £20 per ton for hemp and £32 for tow. The consequence iras that the export of fibre was not a jro- ' fitable proposition, and there was accordingly no market lor the oufcfut. He deprecated the Overseas Commit) ec, ■who controlled shipments, for not attempting to stop the exploitation tiat was taking place in the colonies to '.he benefit of the shipping companies. The majority of the flaxmills in lower Waikato, as well as in other pa - ts of the country, he said, had had to dose down, throwing quite 2,000 men out!of I work, and quite another 2,000 men would - be placed in a similar position when, as wae imminent, the remainder of the mills ceased operations. He stated further that moreover many millers were placed in the invidious position of (holding large stocks of hemp of ■which they could not dispose, and financial embarrassment was the natural sequel since large expenditure 'had been incurred in production. The existing condition of things, he stated, was most disastrous to flaxmilling, and ihe thought that the Government should take action ac to shipping charges.