FLAX GRADING.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 25, 24 October 1907, Page 2

FLAX GRADING.

A COMPLAINT FROM BLENHEIM. The now system' of'flax grading came in for some strong criticism; from, members,,ot tho Beirn Chamber, of. ,Commorcc MconUy.. Th'e'.principal complaint was that the Binder, ; on entering the store,'looked, around tor tho poorest, feature.^of- thp i consignment, and, Living found what he'wanted, .classed the' whole lot ■'. accprding. to .; the said lowest featuro For dnstaiice, it is said that h line that was , expected to gain .twenty, points each for " strength,". " colour,, stripping, and' ■" scuteliing," which would bring tho total points'.up : to, oighty and_ give,it the " fihb. '.certificate, was dropped to eightoen points iirtlip colour section because ot a slight over-greenness, and, although each other feature ,was, on tho grader's own admission, .almost good enough for superior,' the Q f tho two points on colour meant the complete missing of tho fino certificate aimed at. AVitJi contract suppliers, , a miss is as good as a : mile," and in this case tho" difference, in prico hotwoen. tho fine , grade and, "good fair" (tho.hoxt lower).,is about'iio!per ton'. The contention of mor- : ohnntsi is that tho excellence of a lino of llax intliree features should Help it through with the fourth. Oue member of the Chamber ' stutod '"fcliat the Govornment grading system had cosflho llnxmillcrs of xNow Zoahind over £LOO,ODO. It is probable tho Flaxmillers'- Association will take the matter Up. Tho point,' of cbursp, should not bo lost sight of that audioes''incurred througli tho. grader s decision'is calculated to ensurp greater caro in tho'.fut|iro. A better quality of fins means enhanced prices, so that tlio Krndcr s operations arejiot an- unmixed evil.—-" Express. •■