FRAUDS IN THE FLAX TRADE

Bay of Plenty Times, 20 March 1890, Page 1

FRAUDS IN THE FLAX TRADE

1 A. very large and thoroughly representatiTe. meeting of flax millers of tne Manawatu and Kangitikei district^'Was held (sate the Evening Post) on Saturday^ the 22nd, in -the Public Hall at Foxton. Some 80 mills Were directly represented, aDd- the hall was filled by others interested. Mr E. S. Thynne took the. chair k The objects of the meeting were t| arrive at some knowledge f of the cause' of so much flax now in "VVlellin^qn being condemned, while similar qualities were readily taken till within the last month, and if the standard of quality hac( risen how that- could be reached with advances obtainable. Mr fi. Gardner, in a lengthy speech, re? viewed, the liistory of the past tiro £dars • the growth from 1500 tons to 8000 last year, and now nearer 20,000 tons; the effect of that sudden increase in the hemp market of the world, a market that up to a years ago wu only able to absorb 120,000 tons of fibre, and all of which could be supplied by Manila and Sisal ; • the cause of the increase in yalues in England; how that attention was drawn to New Zealand hemp » k° w that English merchants who bought U the colofliei, expecting to obtain qualities similar to those which for mafly years before they were having, were disappointed, receiving instead flax bad in colour, in dressing, and strength, causing them severe loss. Ijbgliah merchants warned their l%ents here, and rerused to buy without a guarantee as to quality. That was refused, and now there was not an order to be placed in New Zealand. The orders already placed still not completely executed were now so carefully scrutinised, to the rejection of hundreds of bales, that millers were thrown back upon advances and shipments on their own account. Mr Gardner said that agents in Wellington were now going to the other extreme, and rejecting much that in England wonld be readily taken as fair average quality. Still it was not to be wondered at that they were determined to be safe, and aot cause their clients further loss; The outcome of the present check would be that flax millers would be compelled to produce a good article, and if the article was good, merchants who knew what flax was would advance sufficient to enable them to pay their way. But if a good article could hot be produced from circumstances beyond the power of the manufacturers the sooner these were shut up the better. The question of cost was dwelt upon in the fullest detail. He referred to London freights, and said so long as chartered vessels at the rate of two per month had to be obtained on a charter of 35s per ton measurement, and as each ton dead-weight of fax lif&tsurecl, even UrtioxZ damped, 2^v tons, there could be little prospect of a reduction in that quarter. The only thing flax millers could do would b& tojsend'to some of the neighbouring colonies, where imports were greater than exports, where vessels wanted cargoes md bad to sail by certain dates, then, if the intercolonial trade could be had moderate/ the cost home would be reduced.: Such action had better ba taken by an association. The different branches of the manufacture were each in turm dwelt upon, and care urged on all or any— one faulty, the result of the Whole was faulty. A resolution was passed that all present pledge themselves to put into the market only good, well-dressed flax. Subsequently between 30 acd 40 flaxmillers formed themselves intoafiaxmillers 1 aMOciation. Mr Gardner witi elected chairman, and Mr Bobinson secretary. -Bffortsweretobemade to create affiliation sodetietf over the Colony, and^by that meaos oecure the best nie&ods of producing flax of good quan% f a# tite most economical rate. It wa« ascertained that, arising | out of the check to the industry, i some 41 out of 86 mm^?* t fft in tne district were stopped working, representiiig an annual decre»win the output of nearly 6100 tom, and kenning !