The Press. FRIDAY. DECEMBER 17. 1886.

Press, Volume XLIII, Issue 6626, 17 December 1886, Page 2

The Press. FRIDAY. DECEMBER 17. 1886.

Our contemporary, the Weekly Preh, in an article in the '"Yeoman" column, refers to a question of very considerable importance to our agricultural community. Attention is directed to the fact that, notwithstanding* past failures, there is an opening fo* skill and enterprise in th" extension of the flax industry. Two or three years ago, as our readers know, this matter was taken up wfth great interest, and a amount of money was invested in the industry. No great success attended these endeavours. The Temuka Company has survived, but the Rangiora and Canterbury Companies have wound up. Into the causes which led to that result it is not necessary to $nter at any great length. Our con- j temporary's explanation is tbat too much was attempted in the fist instance. " Contrary to our expressed j opinion—-an opinion more than once reiterated—tbe Company, then formed clung to the idea of. preparing fibre for shipment to 5 toe home market, a proceeding ended in heavy loss to . . . . Was it t&afc,in«.. country lilii»._N«*w<__futtlimiSf where labour was so much higher than it was in the great flar-growing countries of Europe, where the farmer knew little or nothing of the propersystem of preparing the fibre, and where there was a total absence of skilled labour and tbe proper machinery for preparing and turning out a marketable sample of fibre—each a sample as would command a ready sale in the Home markets—we say, was it to be expected that success would attend the attempt?" The idea at tbe time tbe industry was urged on tbe attention of tbe Canterbury farmers was that fibre should be produced for tbe manufacture of binder twine. At a future time, when ' the industry bad been established, and when our farmers bad become familiar with tbe management pf the fibre, higher things might bave been attempted. . ' We confess that the failure, two or three years ago, to establish the flax industry on a comprehensive scale was a disappointment to us. We felt tbat if the matter had been dealt with prudently something might have been done, and a new source of wealth provided for the agricultural community. Onr regret is all the greater when we find tbat others, who nave been more persevering, are reaping the reward. Our London correspondent, in a letter wbicb we published some days ago, directed attention to what tbe Canadians are doing in the matter of flax culture. There is, it appears, a considerable export of hemp and flax from Canada to the United States, and this year a firm in Ontario sent over 1000 tons of flax to Belfast, which bat been pronounced to be much -upen'or to the Eußsian article. England imports annually some 100,000 tans of flax, of which about 80,000 come from Bussia. But it ia becoming more and more difficult for t)e -English merchant to do business witb tbe Eussian producer. Tie Boa-dan Post Office officials, our correspondent remarks, are inquisitorial nnd the prompt execution of <rdera is never effected. •Moreover Russia has lately imposed an aimos prohibitive duty on manufacture/ linen shipped from tbe TJnite«/jß_i n ßdom. The natural tendencyof ail this is to interfere-with trad/ and cause the British manufacturer to look elsewhere for bis raw maerial. According to a paper read in the Conference Hall of the lidian and Colonial Exhibition, Canada is likely to supply all mc material needed. The Canadian Government are being urged to take the matter up, and by furnishing information and lending assistance to farmers, to induce them to turn their attention to flax and hemp. This is, of course, very satisfactory to the Canadian farmers. If Bussian folly and shortsightedness should drive the English purchaser from the field, a British colony will be the gainer. It seems to be admitted by the best authorities that Canada is admirably adapted for the growth of hemp and flax on an extensive scale, all that is wanted being .knowledge $nd skill in tbe preparation of tlie Jibre. 7 The question is : Are we in New Zealand to share in tiie profits which the blindness of the Russian Government is placing} within the

peach of the Canadians ? The opinion of oar contemporary already qaoted is, that European flax, properly grown and properly manipulated, would" pay aa well, and probably better, than any other crop on the farm." Onr conviction is tnat flax culture ought to occupy a prominent place amongat our agricultural industries. In tbe firat instance, the flax could be converted into binding twine. But properly grown and properly cultivated it ia far too valuable for that Surpose alone. If the settlers in lanitoba and the North-West can grow flax at a profit, the farmers of Canterbury ought to be able to do the same thing, lhe inland freight should more than make up for our distance from England, while wages are probably as high in Canada as in New Zealand. Of course there must be experience and knowledge. But these can be got. The cultivation of flax has long been a settled industry in the North of Ireland, and we ought to be able to obtain the services of men thoroughly trained in the business by paying for them. There may be a good deal of trouble in connection with starting an industry of the kind, but in these days of low prices and depression it is worth while taking trouble if money can be made. We sincerely hope that our farmers will give some attention to this question, 'because we are convinced that if the flax industry is taken up with vigour and managed with prudence, it will prove a source of considerable wealth to the community.