N.Z. MAIL PUBLISHED WEEKLY. FRIDAY, MAY 3, 1889.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 896, 3 May 1889, Page 16

N.Z. MAIL PUBLISHED WEEKLY. FRIDAY, MAY 3, 1889.

No colonial indmstry lias exhibited such re markable viecieeifcudcs of late years not even

THE ELAX IN DtTSTIiX.

wool-growing—as ban tho Now Zealand flax manufacture. A comparatively short time ago it seemed all. but dead. Latterly it lias advanced by leaps and bounds, and although prices are at tho present moment slightly lower than they were a few weeks back, they are still richly profitable to producers. When it is recollected that £2O to £22 per ton pays very well, it will readily be seen bow substantial a profit must be afforded bv such rates as £BS to £4O. It would be unsafe to. rely upon the maximum prices continuing to rule pemanemlly, but there seems good reason for believing that abundantly remunerative rates will prevail, because tho rise in value has been due to legitimate causes, which are likely to be lasting in their effects. It is the immense development and multiplication or the uses to which phormium tcnci-j, can bo put' that has occasioned the present large demand for the fibre. But it will be vain to expect that this important industry shall maintain its position if producers are induced by tbs prevalence of high prices to turn out infeipor stuff. We observe with much regret that this has been the case already in some instances, and that the slight decline in price—especially in respect of Wellington flax —to which we have referred, ia attributed by experts to carelessness in manufacture, induced by the high rates so readily obsainable. Mr Charles bpurling, of 27 Leadenhallstreet, London, has been good enough to forward to us by the mail just arrived some very interesting and instructive observations on this matter. Writing on the 21st February he remarked :—“ The market, under pressure of a few sales, has been rather irregular, especially for the medium and lower qualities, which generally show a decline of from 10s to 15s per ion from the extreme rates lately ruling here. Good and fine descriptions,both Wellington aud Auckland, have continued to command fully late rates.” This, it will be seen, bears out ou r statement that really good qualities still command high prices, ami that the rail has been almost exclusively due to the large proportion of inferior stuff sent Home. Writing on the 21st March Mr Spurring says that since his last advices the market for New Zealand flax bar. boon very dull, ami in so mo few cases-, in sympathy with the decline in Manila hemp, holders hare accepted rather lower prices for the commoner descriptions of Wellington ; “ good and wellcleaned sorts, although quiet, show but little, if any, decline ia value,” either as regards Auckland or Wellington. It is noted that several parcels imported by the Baakiauae show a de-

cided falling nil in quality,together with a want of proper cleaning and preparing. Many, he says, are of poor, coarse fibre, and would lead to tbe inference that, stimulated by tho high rates which have ruled here some months, shippers are sending away flax of oid growth, the fibre—improperly steeped or retted—showing great hardness and want of vegetable sap and nature. He expresses an earnest hope that the market will not be .overloaded with low and ordinary -sorts of flax, and thus bring into disrepute an article which is still gaining .in public favour. He adds the significant 110 te:— “Our market closes today quiet for common flax, whilst good and fine are still inquired for/' Speaking from forty years’ experience in tho sale and purchase of textile fibres both from India and the colonies, and being anxious to see an increased development of the trade of this country in New Zealand flax, Mr Spurling urges shippers in the future to bo specially careful in the following important points, the observance of which are likely to maintain tho improved and favourable opinion gaining ground as to the value of-New Zealand flax : —“ Ist. That, as far as possible, the colour be uniform, and of a palish yellow ; 2nd. That, when two or more colours exist, they should be separated into secondary marks ; 3rd. That no runners or hard strikes should be found in the heads, or layers; 4th. That the seed or crop end should bo softened, and the hard particles carefully removed.” He holds that with the high rates still ruling for Manila hemp, other substitutes—such as New Zealand flax, Mauritius hemp, and the fine, soft, well-cleaned aloe fibre—are likely still to be in good request in our markets, and that although there may be some temporary check in values, this will probably not be to auy material extent. We hope that our flax millers will pay duo attention to these valuable hints from an expert of such large experience. The flax growers, too, need to pay more attention than hitherto to the quality of their produce, and to its preservation from injury during growth. Vast quantities of valuable flax have been destroyed, and are still being destroyed, through cattle being allowed to roam about, among 'it at their own sweet will. They trample it down, and by pulling out the young, sweet shoots effectively ruin any chance of a plant yielding marketable produce. Fiax docs not' grow in a year, nor can a crop bo cut yearly. Unless it be permitted to grow undisturbed by stock, it soon ceases to bo of any value at all. There can be no more fatal mistake than for the owners of fine flax country to let ii remain unfenced and exposed to the inroads of, cattle. It will be deplorable if the general carelessness in this respect aud in the process of preparation—resulting as it ultimately must, in a falling-off of the supply of good stuff —should gradually kill the market for a commodity which at present promises to be one ot Now Zealand s most profitable exports.