FLAXMILLERS' ASSOCIATION.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1242, 26 September 1911, Page 6

FLAXMILLERS' ASSOCIATION.

(By TelcsraDli.—Press Association.! Palmcrston, September 25.' The annual meeting of the I\ew Zaaland Flaxmillers , Association has cordially approved of the Government bonus of .£12,000 for flax working inventions. The question of advertising the bonus throughout Australasia, England, and America was considered at the- meeting yesterday, it being stated that the flaxinillcrs of the Dominion would contribute to the cost. The matter was finally left to the executive aftor a hearty vote of thanks hod been passed to the Minister for Agriculture and the Government. The officers elected were:—President, Mr. Joseph Liegins; vice-president. Mr. B. Ij. Broad; treasurer, Mr. Maurice Cohen; executive committee, Messrs. Robcrt M'Xab, Louis Seifert, J. Tqnnant, H. Jarvis, H. Scifcrt. and C. Higginson. The annual report regretted that tho shipping companies had not acceded to a request to reduce freights. It was stated that opinions had been generally expressed .recently to the effect that the-Grading Department had applied greater stringency than herotofme to grading good fair hemp, with tho Desult that hemp, definitely prepared for good fair quality, just misses the grade. It was suggested that a deputation' should meet the chief grader on the subject. Mr. Ferris, chief grader, addressed the meeting, and said that there had been no raisin gof standards, but they had all been made uniform witli tho Wellington practice. He condemned carelessness in preparation, permitting vegetable matter to adhere to fibres, and yet expecting to obtain a good fair grade. That class of fibro was useless for binder twine, and was only used for low-grade cordage. Ho also urged that spasmodic, supplies of hcihp were suicidal. New Zealand hemp suffered more than any other product by tho failure of producers to recognise the necessity for regularity of supply. Regarding leaf Mr. Ferris stated that good stripping and scutching would counterbalance i': somewhat, and permit of its taking gocd fair grade.