THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12824, 7 June 1907, Page 5

THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

a 1 | (rRESS ASSOCIATION- TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, June 6. ► With reference to the telegram from I the Thames complaining of the expori tation of flax roots to the New Hebrides : and elsewhere, the Minister of Lands > informed the "Poet" that the utate- • ment that tho fields were being depleted is a wild rumour. A few roots 1 might bo exported, but that could not be prevonted. Far greater harm was done to the flax fields by careless own- ! era allowing cattle to stray over the ground, than by exporting roots. The , Agricultural Dcpartmeriit bad been experimenting some time with a view to encouraging the industry. (special to "thb press.") DUNEDIN, June 6. A number of flaxmillers met the Secretary for, Agriculture (Mr J. D. Ritchie) this afternoon. Some of them had grievances against the new regulations, which come into force in Sep- ■ tember. The points criticised were the regulation compelling the hales to he bound with five, instead of four bands, end the regulation forbidding the export Home of condemned fibre, as bringing discredit upon the industry. A third point touched upon was the grading. One miller suggested that there should bo a Board of Appeal from a grader's decision. Mr Ritchie considered this unnecessary. He did not, he said, want to appoint a chief grader or a Board, because She was satisfied that the staff wero competent to grade, each on his own responsibility. If it wefre shown that an error of any dimension was made, he would see that another grader verified the matter. This statement, and a subsequent one that he was calling the graders together to try to arrive at uniformity, appeared to give satisfaction. (rRESS ASSOCIATION T_L_3_AH.) PALMERSTON NORTH, June 6. The case for the Union in the flaxmilling dispute is now before tho Arbitration Court. The evidence called so far is in support of the contention by the Union that work at tho mills affects the health more or leas of all those employed, the throat and lungs suffering principally. Financially, the Union contends that the recommendations of th© Conciliation Board, if ! made on tho basis of the award by the Arbitration Court, will only increase the present cost of production of fibre by lGs per ton. ______________= l