FLAX-GROWING.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 80, 6 April 1926, Page 4

FLAX-GROWING.

THE MARKET PROSPECTS. Referring- to hemp prices. Mr. A. Seirert stated at a meeting- of tlie Xew Zealand I'laxmillers' Association at Palmerston North, that, although the market to-day ranged about £30 10/ per ton ror high fair, this was not equal to the average prewar price taKen over a period of about ten years, when the averag-e cost of production to-day was takpn into account. The averajre rate Tor wag-es just before the war started had been 9/4. while to-day it was 14/4: so that the percentage or Increase, was greater than tue increase in the value or tlie hemp. Taxation, railway charges, and various other matters had increased over 100 per cent, and, altogether, the naxmilling: industry was in a worse position to-day: than it was before the war. Some time ago it had been stated that the stocks or hemp throughout the world were so. low that a considerable increase in price would shortly lake placo. That had not eventuated, and, s.fm , cl, Ule Deduction or sisal in Yucatan, ' iii^nrt r^«? nd East Arrica was increasing-' "uturf b,,t w i?. n t0 be Pesimistic about the fact tha? m,,l here %vas no disguising- the. ana kelp S?,?" t0 be ver y w atchrul the lowest n^«ih? c cost ° r Production to time arels th! mifii? Olnt « and at the same •UU the t'«ae T^ P m y Of hemp that woul d aoi the competition ,X years A «° tnel- e was f s\ Africa «S tyi c tp - day rrom