Meeting of Hemp-millers.

Manawatu Herald, 1 July 1893, Page 2

Meeting of Hemp-millers.

In pursuance with an advertise* ment appearing in these columns a meeting of hemp-millers was held at Whyte'B hotel on Thursday afternoon. : C ; ,

There was a good attendance amougst those present being Messrs A. Harris (Bulls), C. Pascal (Oroua Bridge), R. Gardner (Kereru)? ; P. Bartholomew (Levin), J. Dalton (Oroua), J. Tennent (Carnarvon), A. H. Wylds (Palmerston), J. Symons, J. Dudson, R. Austin, C. Symons, P. Dudson, R. Walden and H Ooley. Mr Gardner was voted to the chair and Mr A. Harris was elected secretary. , _ Mr Gardner in opening the meet* ing informed the milleis that this was really an adjourned meeting from Palmerston, which had been 1 called for the 17th June. A subcommittee had there been formed and they desired to lay their recommendations before this meeting to this effect which he would read : — Your committee beg to >aubniit to the flaxmillers preseril; the as an agreement for y'dnr^pjeptance and signature. ;i%| - That we shall form ourselves into an Association for mutual benefit and protection and we agree to accept other millers as - members who will sign this agreement.: That a committee be appointed by this meeting with power to aot for all members. That the Committee when elected shall take immediate action toiasoure the services of an independent and capable grader by first approaching the Government with a view to their appointing a grader of their own whose fees shall be paid as hereinafter .provided, or, failing Government action, the committee shall secure the appointment of a capable expert and * shall place him in an independent position in the following manner:— He, or the Government's grader shall' be paid for the work threepence per tale on all flax inspected by him. That such fee shall be paid by the Association or its agent if the Flax be shipped direct to a foreign market, but if sold in the colony the buyer shall pay one half, the. seller the other, such charge to be a full charge on the flax sent and sold. That the grader shalUlrind himself neither to buy or sell or act aa agent for buyer or seller nor take other fees than that herein agreed upon. That all flax be sold upon grade. The grades to be G.f.a.q., Fair %M fa Omtotm nMtlltfl^si

one agent solely who shall represent all of them in Wellington and abroad, whose duty it will be to do nothing contrary to the direction of the committee of the Association. ' He shall receive all flax sent to Wellington or elsewhere that may be sent by the members of the Association : shall; on their behalf, on arrival at Wellington dispose of the same either through sales previously effected, or by shipment at once to save charges. Before disposal the flax to be graded and a certificate obtained of quality so that sales may be effected in course of shipment or afloat. If the flax be not sold, before, or in course of, shipment that it shall be forwarded to such market as the agent may deem most opportune or favourable unless otherwise directed. That the agent shall at once make an advance to the miller, cable quotations from the highest market be taken as its value from which the agent shall deduct a sum of seven pounds or such sum as shall be agreed upon to oover charges and deductions, then say 12£ per cent to cover possible contingencies, fluctuations of market, &c, and the balance shall be the advance to the miller. The miller may elect at time of consignment to ship or sell. / Should the flax be sold in course shipment the miller to receive payment at once. The agent shall provide to the individual members of the Association weekly oable quotations of the value of the g.f.a.q. from the American and English markets on cables being received. The agent shall receive a commission of on all sales and commission to be paid on the net amount received by the miller. Flax shall be delivered to buyer according to grade irrespective of brand and unless otherwise provided in the order of its arrival in Wellington. The agent shall insure flax if; required at the lowest possible figure or as directed, such insurance, to cover all risk from the time the flax leaves the scutcher shed till sold. The agent shall disolose to miller or executive «of Association all particulars as to the disposal of all parcels. The agent shall not accept any •ommission from buyers but shall' accept his own commission of as full compensation for his agency. He shall endeavour to obtain such concessions as he can from Harbour Board, Shipping Companies and others to reduce charges. Twenty five per oent of such concessions to be retained by himself, ■ the balance to be returned to the miller. That he shall open up negotiations with the chief buyers of the world and shall at his own expense, if he sees it to the interest of the flax trade and the Association (himself or by special agent) visit the chief buying markets, or, if he should be so directed by the Association. [ ■, The term of this agreement shall be for twelve months and continued from year to year unless notice shall be given by the miller at least three months before the termination of each year, commencing from this date.

All parties shall enter into a bond agreeing to conform to these, and such other rules as may be agreed upon by the Association, and in the event of any breach, the offending party, when so adjudged by the committee of the Association shall payany sum not exceeding £100 and not less than £5, and the agent may, if so instructed by the committee stop such fine from out of any money on hand belonging if the ease is that of the miller. Any member withdrawing from the Assooiation during the currency of the argument shall forfeit the sum oi£tO. \ All enquiries for flax shall be referred to the agent. Mr Bartholomew moved. That this meeting join themselves into what shall be known hereafter as the. " New Zealand Flax Millers Association," the object being mutual benefit. Thexmernbers' entrance fee to be ten shillings each, subsequent iubscriptions to be levied by the committee in such a manner as they may determine, arising out of the necessities of the Association. Mr A. Harris in seconding the motion gave many excellent reasons why millers should join such an Association. He did not think that at present millers were receiving fair treatment, and he instanced that in toe of his shipments the charges amounted to £10 9s a ton ! He pointed out that day by day charges were being heaped upon the miller. At one time he sold his flax at dead weight, but now there was tare taken off. When he protested against this innovation he was told by the buyers that this miller, and that miller had allowed it, so he found that he had to. If they had been united this loss would have been saved. He remarked on the costs millers were put to by having so often to go to Wellington, and he. reckoned the Associ ation would make a saving in this of an appreciable amount. -Mr^rdneHaoped -millers would agree to act unanimously as by unity moon jeojpld be saved. He gave some Y«rjMmfoftbl« figured ■howinjj how a itnult f w «nte«« at tw« anf * te»lf

per cent on the value of flax sent from this district to Wellington would represent some £2000 a year. From returns kindly furnished to him he pointed out that the almost total quantity of flax went to America. Mr Gardner also surprised the meeting by discovering what appears to be another new charge invented for the .despoilment of the miller, viz ; a " stacking " charge of three pence a bale, a charge regularly made but the work seldom done. On the motion being put to the meeting it was carried. Mr R. Austin moved and Mr J. Dudson seconded, That the following gentlemen be the first members of the Committee with power to add to their number, Messrs R. Gardner, Pascal . Bros., Dudson Bros., J. Tennant, R.Austin. P. Bartholomew Symons Bros., A. Harris, Gledhill, Thompson & Co., D. H. Guthrie, and A. H. Wylds. Mr J. Dudson moved, and Mr R. Austin seconded, That the following five gentlemen be the Executive : — Messrs C. Pascal, J. Dudson, B. Austin, R. Gardner, and A. Harris. —Carried. Mr Gardner proposed, and Mr Harris seconded, That all present sign their names to the resolutions and that such signature to be the bond of membership.— Carried. ' The members of the committee then signed and paid their subscriptions to Mr R. Austin who was voted Treasurer. The meeting then adjourned. It was decided that the Executive Committee would meet in Wellington on Tuesday.