THE FLAX TRADE.

Press, Volume XLVII, Issue 7528, 18 April 1890, Page 5

THE FLAX TRADE.

INTEiiYIEWS WITH THE. PEEMIEi

IF__£_S ASSOCIATION _____OBAM.] wei_-Ington; Apiiilji.

The Premier informed a depu_atao| representing the flax millers, who- waita. on him to-day, that he would Co__m*__dcafcf with the Agent-General the fact 1 that'A reward was in contemplation for aa te proved process of dressing flax, might be made publio in the Old Countryi The Premier added that he __d u _(6tW__* the Eailway Commis-i.n.ra would re __.ir_ to receive strong representations __?'"s."_ reduction of freight on £___, and he statethat the Government were only too willing to assist miller-. .Sit Marry mentioned' that he 'had, jusfc been told by a gentleman interested in the trad* that he had received a cablegranj from London to the e_feot that it wot believed that bottom- prices had been reached; He was not at liberty to mention the name, but he oouldr assure the deputa* that what he had just told mm Correct. The deputation mentioned hirge number of fiax mill hands were. o|4 of 7work, but if freights were. millers might be able to carry on. At t&£ present prices it cost from £8 to',''.o- ..'J__ per ton to send Home fib-re. Wairarapa flax mills ezcept on...lia'rt ceased operations, owing to the _e»*-ijes price obtained for fibre, ~ I'Wc'ji'' A deputation represeufang' millers o£ Mauawatu and districts interviewed the Costtijiittee « the Chamber of Commerce this _ft_jrhOon, asking the co-operation of the Chawbee in carrying' oa the flax industry; '(tWt Gardener explained that, the, Which they represented was doing;,j_s bin to maintain the trade by _m]pr-v__g' tne quality of the output and lessening the charges. They had received ._*■ from the Premier to-<__y to grant- t_._>r request that Parliamen. should be asked to place ; the sum o£ -S.lO,ooo<}a-the estimates 'for' an improved' process of p.oduoing fibre, and the question of ->btw&----t-U-ting a reduction in charges had now Ito be faced. He mentioned that frsiglt. from Wellington to London was 90s per toj| while only 45s was charged from Mcl to London. Thus, by taking that rOUt*& fiax could be shipped from here to Ldna(>|( for.about 70a. He urged the assist in having freights reduced. ~-&£__, district alone, only twenty-nine, were working, whereas not long Bi_.ce : _G_ were in full swing. If freight was redeeed _31 per ton, there was a better ohatfce'of contWipg. As showing the magnitude; eg the *_ax industry, he mentioned tb_t._ Sum bf from _3120,000 to _.l_o,oco, w_a'ls vested in it, and about 10,000 xam.w&x recently erap.oyed.. The Cbai.ni&*_. ; (i_. Duncan) and other members of the -_■____• bar said they were desirous o£ &_-ia-__g the industry, but as- the charges were cub down very low now 7_hey saw no immediate prospect .s_■',_ further reduction. The Chairms-i thotigHl that the depression in the fibre trade waa generally due to tho formation of American "Corners/ whereby 'they wers able to reduce prices. Only to-day he had received a telegram that there - was.'.au improvement in the general tone of £$a_ Home market, and this waa' esp_c__U| gratifying, as several - vessel- '_*_*_ New ge&L-nd had-arrived at Eng__a_ and America during the ' p»-t"'"fe# days. Thus,' he said, .' was 7, «__ of the most hopeful sighs he '_ _u__ heard for months. He quoted * figure to show': that in sending - - Seas- in c_j_ffte_-d vessels, as they had had to tfe. tha Shipping Companies only made-Is fJ*_s ton- for carrying wrehout taking' into account the agency charges and proM_ls storage. Therefore the rates not unreasonable. He explained thatih. diffleuity esperianced in getting -Vting, cargoes norfeh after the wool amaoa closed accounted for the e-ts&oedh nary figures quoted by- Mr G__*__ie_ as being charged in -_el_o__*_Je_ _Je pointed out that freight by __fgi_fg Teasels from Wellington had for aom& tune been 70a per ton, which Meant $, de&s loss io the carrying What was needed .was a mefihod. of testing the quality of the fiax when it smved ia London, and to the absence of this he attributed the upa- and downa of the market. Merchants would not ia ______ care to undertake the risks they, had 5-- *h« Past, and there was- no doubt that much of _he Wellington ____ was hot sent forward'fcd a n-arketafei. -hfedifcion. When % Autkland be was mush sfcnwk, with, the ______.enc_> of the fibre turned out in that district, and pro_«-»ly enquiries made there would be hen-__a__. The deputation will interview the Harbor Board and the. agents of the -hipping cornea .iea. targing _, of *»***• ..-,