FLAX INDUSTRY

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 17, 21 January 1927, Page 10

FLAX INDUSTRY

GROWERS AND MERCHANTS

IMPORTANT CONFERENCE

One -of the most important eonfe*. ences ever held in the history of ..the flax industry took place in the Dominion Farmers' Institute to-day,: and is the first that has been held since 1922. Subjects that will probably assume importance are modern methods of manufacture, and the .' grading of' fibre to be produced. In view of the growing nature of the industry, recog-' mtion of its importance in several directions will be aimed _at. Mr. C. A. Louglman presided, and there were also present: Messrs. E. T Frost (Tuakau), H. A. Seifert (Pal. merston North), A. 0. Brown (Waikanae), M. Burke (Hawkes Bay), C. H. Spiers (Shannon), N. Spiers (Waikanae), A. Seifert (Palmerston North), H. Soifcrt (Mauawatu), T. "Watson (Invercargill), R. Macdonald (Waikuku), S. H. Maddren (manufacturer, Uuistchurch), T. S. Moir (Foxton), F. W. Wilson (Foxton), B. B. Wood (merchant, Christchurch), F. Sharland (Blenheim), H.. Berry (Foxton), L. Craw (Linton), M. Pollock .(Johnston and Co., Ltd.), S. A. Longuet (Patterson and Co.), E. L. Goldfinch (Levin and Co., Wellington), and W. Aicken (Martinborough). A number of associations were represented by proxy.

UPS AND DOWNS.

The president said that the .meeting had been called by the Flaxmillers' Association, a body which did not claim to represent the whole industry, but which thought a general conference would be of universal value. His own view was that the time had come, however, to have an association that would represent all phases of the industry. The industry had had its ups and downs, but'there was a feeling, that there was a good margin for improvement in many ■ directions. A schemo for grading would be put forward by Mr. H. A. Seifert, jun. (vice-president of the New Zealand Flaxmillers' Association).

During the past six or seven years the standard had been hardened by ,10 points, and might be again altered. Millers vitally interested had no control. He moved that "The control of the phormiuni fibre and by-products grading be vested in a board, constituted and empowered as follows:— Representation: (a) The board to consist of six members, three of whom shall be elected by the flaxmillers of the Dominion, two from the North and one from the South Island.. The election. I of millers to be conducted by the New ! Zealand Flaxmiilers' Association, who may, however, depute their powers to suitable kindred associations. Voting to be on the basis of one vote per hundred tons of fibre produced in the last . tvrelvo months. One member shall bo appointed by. the hemp merchants,, one by the New .Zealand'cordage manufacturers, and one by the Department • of Agriculture^ The Department of. Agriculture will conduct the election; of the I -non-millers' representatives, (b) Two members shall retire each year—one millers' representative and one other. They may, however, offer themselves for re-election immediately.:, (c) Any member becoming bankrupt or committing an offence shall cease to be amemr ber. (d) In the event of a vacancy a by-election is to b,e held within one month. Duties: (a) The board is to meet at least every six months, (b) The purpose of the board is to govern the grading of all phormium hemp and by-products fibre. To this end, the board shall appoint all graders, define .their .duties, and : .decide.-. their7Salari.es; To define the standard of grade and maintain those standards. Decide the charges for grading, (c).No alteration in standards is to be made without giving three months' notice to- all electors.. Any objections that they-raise are to be heard or read before, the 'board;- But the board's decision is final. (d) The board shall, elect an executive committee of three, who shall hold ofuce for one year. Their duty; shall be to carry out the board's policy.' In the event of. a dispute between - a miller and a grader relative to grade awarded, the executive committee Rcail have power to give a final decision upon the matter, Finance: (a) .The aboard may levy up to Is on each ton of hemp produced. : The board is to completely control the grading of all phormium fibre and by-products in New Zealand. To acquaint producers with the needs of the market, an daid the hemp industry by all means in- its power." ) . . "Manila fibre," said Mr. Scifert, is the niost important in the hard fibre market. Government grading failed there. This most important fibre is now graded under the direction of just such a board as is proposed by this resolution. The cost of the board proposed would, upon present output, amount to only ljd or 2d per bale. This would be a small price for-the advantages to be secured. The change proposed can only be brought about by the united action of all.interested."

STAKDAEDISINa GBADIHG.

Mr.. A.^Seifert said that it was the feeling that grading might at any time be altered in a way that millers did not like. Millers were not desirous of producing a low standard. The leaf today was the same as twenty-five years ago, no better, nor worse, but . millers wished the present standards of grading standardised, which would result in improved work, because of the security promised; millers putting out the best hemp in their grade. A proper range of standard samples could.stand for many years, and would enable a British 'or Apieriean grader to appraise immediately our grades within half a point. Graders did their best, and their work could not be judged by the complaints. Mr. S. A. Louguet (Paterson and Co.). moved: "That no matter what checking system be adopted by this meeting, the meeting now affirm the principle that Government supervision in the control of grading is in the best interests of the industry, and that it be not disturbed."

Continuing the discussion on Mr. Seifert's motion, grading methods elsewhere were gone into, and Mexican and Tanganyika products and'methods were discussed. , ■

It was suggested that the danger of a gradual change through too frequent an establishment of samples might be obviated by the retention of sealed or glassed-in samples for a Jong period of years, as flax fibre was.known to show little, deterioration over twenty years.

PREPARATION OF SAMPLES,

After further discussion, the following motion, by Mr. Goldfinch, seconded by Mr. Frost, was carried:—

"That the Department of Agriculture be asked to have samples of all grades prepared and shown suitably in the main grading stores throughout the Dominion; such samples to be selected by a committee, representing the Department of Agriculture, New Zealand, flaxmillers, manufacturers, and mer-» chants; that the range of samples be renewed as required (once every twelve months is suggested); that the samples be sealed and opened in the presence of recognised authorities only; and that a fee of &1 be paid by millers disputing' the grading when the dispute involves the unsfcaling of the samples."

Messrs. Goldfinch (merchants) and A. Seifert (millers) were appointed to give effect to Mr. Goldfinch's resolution, the manufacturers' representative to bo elected later, the committee to be empowered to add one representative in each case. ■ . — -. ■ :.