FLAX INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2235, 22 August 1914, Page 5

FLAX INDUSTRY

MILLS CLOSING DOWN. A deputation representative of flax-" mill workers in the Manawatu district waited on the llight Hon. AV. F. Massey yesteiday to draw his attention to the fact that owing .to a number of the mills having , closed down there was a good deal of unemployment in the district, and that us more mills would-be closing down shortly, the unemployment would be increased. The members of the deputation were: Messrs. T. Robertson, M3\, C. T. Robinson, secretary of the Manawatu Flaxmill Employees' Union, and Mr. W. E. Parry. -.-.,. Mr. J, Robertson said that the miners intended, if there were no prospects of improvement in the fibre market in two or three weeks, to close down. In the meantime, about (300 men who were normally employed at this time of the year were out of employment, and very soon about 600 more would be in the same predicament. He urged that the Government should devise some means of alleviating distress from unemployment. He suggested that ah expert might be detailed to , report upon '■ the Bax industry, as had been done in connection with the kauri gum industry. ■' Mr. I Parry said that the men had arranged to hold meetings of the unemployed in tho district, but, realising that the Government had its hands full, they had postponed the meetings until thewhead of , the Government had been waited urjon. ' ITie Prime Minister said that, everything possible would be'done to keep tha industries of. the country, going.. At present the flax industry was in a' bad way, as most of the flax went to tho West Coast of America, and the Imperial authorities had announced that the Pacific was hot safe for merchant shipping. Naturally the heavy war r\sks demanded affected the price received by the inillef3. If the trade routes were safe in two or three weeks, as it was hoped they would bej- there would be a great improvement in trade. As far as relief works were concerned, it was honed that in spite of the financial difficulties being mot with, tho Government, would' be able to. keep the public works going, and even to provide more work than " usual for : the unemployed.) He promised that an export would bo sent to report, on the condition of;the flax; industry, and everything possible would be done ;by vho Government to afford relief to the unemployed. ' ' .