FLAX-MILLING INDUSTRY

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3309, 1 April 1926, Page 10

FLAX-MILLING INDUSTRY

Association Discusses ; Position CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM AY ANTED The New Zealand Plaxmillers’ Association met yesterday, Mr A. Seifert presiding. There were also present: Messrs H. Seifert, J. S. Moir, C. Peterson, G. W. Glinkard, H. Berry, G. Brown, W. Petrie (chief hemp grader) and Mr A. H. Cockayne (Department of Agriculture). The chairman, who recently re--turned from a trip abroad, said he had visited the hemp plantations of Ceylon, India, Java and the Straits Settlements and had tried to get as much information regarding the industry there as he could. He had found that labour was much cheaper —the services of ISO men could be obtained for the same money as was paid 12 in New Zealand. Though the market to-day ranged about £3O 10s per ton for high fair, this was not equal to the average prewar price taken over a period of about ten years, when the cost of production to-day was taken into account. The average rate of .-wages just before the war started was 9s 4d; to-day it was 14s 4d. The percentage of increase in wages was therefore greater than the increase in the value of hemp. Again, railway charges, taxation and other costs had increased over 100 per cent., so that ’altogether the flaxmilling industry was in a worse position than it was before the war. Some time ago it was stated that the stocks ‘of hemp throughout the world were so low that it was expected that a considerable increase in the price would, shortly take place. That had not eventuated, however, and instead of an increase in the price of hemp one saw the production of sisal in the Yucatan, Sumatra and East Africa increasing. He did not wish to be pessimistic about the future, but there was no use disguising the fact that the flaxmillers had to be very watchful and keep down the cost of production to the lowest possible point and at thesame time dress the quality of hemp that would suit the trade.

Mr Berry said it was useless try ing to make people take the quality they did not want; what the millers should do was find out exactly what was Mr Glinkard said the course for the New Zealand millers to adopt was to put their hemp into a good enough condition to compete on> what seamed an exceptionally keen market. The production of other classes of fibre was increasing, and unless New Zealand kept ' its products clean manufacturers would switch over to sisal altogether. Hemp Grading Supervision. Mr A. Seifert tabled the following notice of motion: “That a committee be set up to supervisie hemp grading, this committee to consist of one member of the Department of Agriculture, two merchants and two millers.’’

' He said his reasons for giving notice of motion were that hemp grading had not been giving satisfaction for some considerable time; that millers ‘ felt they were not in close enough touch with consumers of hemp; that when complaints came forward they were not informed of the nature of these complaints; and that there had been complaints that the standard of the quality was not the same at all grading ports.'

Mr Seifert added that he was of the opinion that a committee as suggested by him would be in close touch with all sides of the industry and could meet once a month or every tno ‘months to consider all complaints and also endeavour to reorganise the system if it required it. He, wished to make it quite clear he was not against Government grading—it had many advantages—but it was a fact that hemp that was not Government graded was the most popular in the world to-day. He recognised that the graders had a very difficult job, but he felt there was dissatisfaction. The whole onus was put on the grader, but the miller knew what the market wanted, and why not let him supply it? Mr Berry said he agreed with every word Mr Seifert had said. It was at present impossible to have a substantially uniform line. Mr Glinkard said he did not agree with the chairman’s comparison be-

tween flax and sisal, as sisal was not graded to any standard. It was impossible to get down to a basis upon which everybody would agree or to grade a mixed product. Mr Seifert said all hemp went into a pool. If his hemp was worse than anybody else’s he did not think it should be allowed to interfere. It would put the miller more on his mettle if his product were not pooled. Mr Cockayne thought scutching was the worst feature in our hemp to-day, and if it was overdone the position would be worse than it was now. The argument about the grade being hardened had been going on for about 22 years. The trouble was millers viewed the worst hemp they produced as the standard.

Mr Petrie argued that it was impossible to grade in the manner wished so long as hemp .. was received in the way it was being , sent in at present.

Mr Seifert said he agreed that there would have to be thorough classification.

Mr Cockayne said about half the flax product was exported as high fair, and it was necessary to get this as uniform as possible. Mr Clinkard thought that if there were only one or two central classifying stations there would be cheaper and better classification. A Committee Set Up. The chairman said he felt be had to go further in the matter, but as there was such a small meeting he would like the question to be discussed at a later date. If classifying were to be done it would have to be done thoroughly. The following were constituted a committee to bring down a report on co-operative central classification by millers: —Messrs A. H. Cockayne, A. Ross, A. Seifert and J. S. Moir. The committee will confer with the merchants. Damage In Railway Trucks. The chairman advised that some time ago he complained to the Railway Department that a great many bales of hemp and tow got wet in transit because of bad tarpaulins and unsuitable trucks. He had asked the department to return all hemp to the mill and convey it again to the port, free of charge, when it got wet in transit, and was glad to say he had received u reply from the head office stating that every effort would be made to supply suitable waggons and good tarpaulins for the traffic, and that, should any of the bales become wet in transit by rail, the department would convey them free to Shannon for re- | conditioning and thence to Wellingjton on the return journey. !"he meeting was adjourned.