THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17011, 19 November 1918, Page 4

THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

A BETTER 0 JTLOOK. CARGOES FOR AMERICA. The conditions prevailing in the flat trade, and the prospects for an improvement after the conclusion of peace, were nade the subject of an inquiry yesterday.

It was stated by .-n Auckland merchant in the ''trade that there are at present approximately 4500 tons of flax in store at Auckland, and a similar quantity awaiting shipment at various ports throughout the Dominion.

In June, at the end of last season, the flax mills closed down for three months, but the millers made an arrangement with the flax merchants to commence operations again at the beginning of September, in view of American orders already given, or anticipated. Practically all the mills in the Waikato and East Coast districts adhered to this arrangement, but shortly after commencing work the embargo on 'flax shipments to America was announced. A deputation of flaxmillers and merchants waited on the Prime Minister at the beginning of November. It was explained that owing to the small allotments of space made.for flax for Britain, the United States .had been New Zealand's main outlet for flax for the last three years, and the closing of the United States market really meant the stoppage of fhe Dominion heinp industry. ; Representations were made to Washington by the Prime Minister, and although the embargo had not been lifted, the United States Government had permitted certain vessels chartered to kad flax for America before the embargo was announced, to fill up. Two vessels are now at New Zealand ports loading flak cargoes, and this will afford considerable* relief. It 13 . anticipated by both merchants and millers that, :in view of the improvement in the shipping: situation consequent on the cessation of hostilities,, more shipping space for flax for the London market will shortly be offering, and the millers see.no reason why they should noli run their mills this season. It is expected, however, that there will be a lower range of prices than during the war period, prices during the last few years having been unduly forced-up owing to the difficulty, in getting hemp from the Philippines. Most of the mills in the Wtikato and East Coast districts have commenced operations, but the employees are more or less affected at present by the influenza epidemic, in consequence of r which it is expected that the deliveries to the city etoros during the next month will not be very heavy.