FLAX-BOLSTERS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 8970, 22 April 1890, Page 2

FLAX-BOLSTERS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sin, —“The present depression in the hemp industry ” is the current phrase of the day, and is just about as misleading as any popular phrase could be. If I was a waif on the streets of a great city, accustomed not to know the sound of the dinner gong, and doubtful whether I was going to get a meal at all, and suddenly I wis transported to some land of plenty, where 1 could browse till I burst —and indeed had a surplus of dainties to contemplate—and again I was as-'suddenly removed back to my former sphere of semi-starvation, it would be as sensible for meHo talk of “ the present depression in food supplies” as it is for ns in New Zealand to talk of the present depression in the hemp (industry. What is the history of this i:iuduany 1 Most of us perhaps cannot

remember the former boom in New Zealand flax, just twenty years ago, which ran on all fours with this last boom. Tie former boom was to be the salvation of New Zealand—as was this last—the arguments used were the same, and if anyone will turn to the appendices to the Journals of the House of Representatives for 1871, Paper G.—No. 4, and study it, he will see that the subject of flax was thoroughly threshed out at that time. There is one great difference certainly in the two booms, and that is in the amount of flax worked and the number of mills, and consequently of people employed. That is mainly due to there being twice as many people in the Colony and twice as much flax land opened up. The magnitude of the industry was as great in proportion to the population and liabilities of the Colony then as it has been recently. Nothing on earth that can be done either by way of bonus for a new machine or a concession to manufacturers from the Railway Commissioners will permanently assist the trade. Other elements rule the roast, and until the large stocks recently shipped and those awaiting shipment—and which are assisting to drug an already sluggish market—are disposed of, or until we know that there is an utter failure of the Manila crop, will there be likely to be any revival in the industry—bonuses notwithstanding. If the evidence of the profit to be derived from the invention of a better machine than any at present in use has not yet produced such a machine, then I say LIO.OOO will not do it. Why, Sir, I suppose anyone will believe that this problematical trial inventor may easily acquire LIO,OOO in the next flax boom without any Government bonus. If they do not, then all I can say is that their cry for assistance is humbug, for they can have no faith in the industry themselves. We may thank our stars for these oases in the desert of the flax industry, and pray that another fertile period may soon ensue, so that the machinery now on the ground may be utilised. But we may cry all day and all night for bonuses and concessions, and the only people who will benefit will be women employed to wash the handkerchiefs we have misused in mopping up onr idle tears, when we (that is, the majority) find that the minority have swallowed up the bonuses and concessions, and yet the flax industry is just where it is at the present time.—l am, etc., Meteor.