THE MANUFACTURE OF PHORMIUM.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4178, 11 August 1874, Page 3

THE MANUFACTURE OF PHORMIUM.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —New Zealand’s great prosperity, in which we are told all its inhabitants have participated, is a strange libel .upon those who for the last five years have gallantly struggled in the development of this industry. I address you upon this subject individually ; but in doing so I feel assured I reciprocate the opinion of the numerous class in the Marlborough Province who, with myself, have unfortunately been connected with it. The Hon. Mr. Vogel in his financial review congratulates the people on their universal prosperity. With an amount of surplus that he evidently finds a difficulty in disposing of, and with a gigantic scheme of millions for Polynesian monopoly, he does not hesitate to leave one class unnoticed and uncared for, which has made great sacrifices, to its utter ruin and discomfort. The hon. gentleman will, perhaps, be surprised to learn that the losses incurred in the Colony by phormium operations will not fall far short of £300,000. The assistance to the industry given by the Government hitherto has amounted to the appointment of a Commission, in which Commissioners were placed to make inquiries who, knowing nothing at ail about it, reported accordingly. This hon. gentleman surely grasps the shadow for the substance in neglecting this great local industry for imaginary wealth elsewhere. Why does he not assist it in its present helpless position by such means as are within his power ? There is no doubt we have been working in the dark, with bad machinery, producing bad fibre; and, now that our finances are exhausted, we receive accounts, by the overland April mail, from undoubted sources (viz., the Home Neios and European Mail) that this same material, properly dressed, is actually valued in advance of Manilla hemp. It surely behoves the hon. gentleman now to come to our rescue and realise that fact, if in doing so he could recoup to us all our losses and render the undertaking very prosperous. If Mr. Pownall has brought his scraping machinery to this perfection after his long labors and outlay, he deserves a large bonus in recognition of his services as a public benefactor, and steps should at once be taken to verify it in such form as may be deemed most judicious by the Government, it being totally out of the power of those concerned in the flax industry to attempt doing so. One more important fact I desire to quote : That if no steps are taken to prevent it, the whole of the flax in the country (the greater part of it grows on the best land) will be destroyed for grazing purposes.—Yours, &c., A Sufferer.