NEW ZEALAND FLAX.

Evening Post, Volume LXXX, Issue 112, 8 November 1910, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND FLAX.

IS THE MARKET IN DANGER? MR. A. E. MABIN'S VIEWS. Mr. A. E. Mabin (Levin and Co.) admitted to be one of the best qualified men in New Zealand to give an opinion on the export and marketing of New Zealand hemp or flax, returned to Wellington last evening from London via the United States. In the course of an interview with a Post representative, Mr. Mabin made it very clear that the New Zealand fibre has a fairly hard fight -before it in the fibre markets of the world, which are, roughly, London, America, and Australia. Sisal and Manila fibre are its • chief competitors in America' and Europe respectively. "I found," Mr. Mabin continued, "that everywhere the cry was New Zealand flax is too dear in comparison with other fibres. Some consumers told me that they had not used a ton of New Zealand flax for several years, and had no intention of doing so, unless it could be bought on a par with other fibres. New Zealand flax was well spoken of, and manufacturers liked it for binder-twine purposes, but it was a question of price. Manila sisal had fallen in price, and could be bought in large quantities at reasonable prices, whilst New Zealand flax could only be bought in small quantity, and at unreasonable prices. I was asked over and over again why we could not reduce prices and hold the trade. My reply was invariably, We are working under an Arbitration Court award, and the cost of production is fixed by that court, and millers ate up against' a brick wall. It is almost impossible, except by inventing fresh labour-saving appliances, to reduce the cost of production, and millers are now selling at bedrock. "Several consumers told me plainly that, we were losing our trade and opportunity, and they would cease to think of New Zealand iiax in future. In one works I was shown machinery which once was used for New Zealand flax, thrown out into the scrap heap. AMJixtICANS AMAZED. "Americans seem fairly svell acquainted with our labour conditions," said Mr. Mabin, and he added that "they marvel at them. One New York manufacturer considered 'an outrage' that employers could not have a free hand to keep their industry together and protect the capital invested in that industry, by readjusting the cofcu of production during a period of low prices." SISAL PRODUCTION. • While in America Mr. Mabin met a Mexican merchant who was a large dealer in sisal. He said sisal producers were going through a rough time, as they could not produce sisal at present prices ; but they were doing all in their power to produce cheaper, and he anticipated that they would do bo ; and though the production of sisal wuuld fall oft somewhat, yet they were going to keep manufacturers supplied, and keep their hold- on the trade. "How different," he continued, "from us in New Zealand, where production has fallen from 30,000 tons to one half, and nothing can be done to hold the trade. Owing to a fetish-like worship of the Arbitration Court, regulation of hours oi labour, and wages, in an industry which has to find the market for ite product outside the Dominion!" IN AUSTRALIA. Even in Australia, Mr. Mabin held, where New Zealand flax has been very popular, the market was in danger- of being lost to New Zealand, as recently consignments of Manila twine made abroad were coming into use. "'I am not, I hope," he added,, "despondent regarding a very valuable New Zealand industry, particularly for our workers ; but the folly of trying to work such an industry under arbitration regulation has always been manifest to some of us, but it has been very forcibly brought home to me after into conditions abroad." As to the future of the market very little caD be learned. The general opinion was, Mr. Mabin went on, that we shall continue to see low prices, liverything depends on the rate of production of Manila, and this shows no signs of falling off. Good harvests in America would help matters. The recent harvest was a poor one for .stiaw, and for tho consumption of . binder twine, although the actual i-esults in grain were satisfactory. HANDLING IN LONDON. In conclusion Mr Mabin said that as it was freely considered that flax did not receive good treatment by the shipping companies during discharge of cargoes in .London, he visited the docks, and saw the lonic discharging some 4000 hales, and he found that every possible care was being taken in the handling, and in the delivery of the right bales to the various consignee's. The shipping companies sign bills of lading ac not being responsible for marks and numbers, but he found that they not only delivered according to marks, but according io numbers also, and the flax was sent to the consignees in as good a condition as when it left Wellington. The shipping companies, he found, spoke very favourably of the system of marking which was introduced by the Grading Department several years ago. The grading of hemp was also well spoken of b^aU interested in tag trade.