THE New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1896. THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVIX, Issue 3005, 17 December 1896, Page 2

THE New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.)

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1896. THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

With which are incorporated the Wellington Independent, established 184 S, and the New Zealander .

Mild complaint has been made that the Government have not acted as liberally as might have been expected in the matter of the furnishing of funds to enable an expert from this. Colony to visit Groat Britain, America and Canada in the interests of the fiajc industry. At the same time there are not wanting those who declare that to expend any sum, largo or small, in the direction advocated by flaxmillers and others interested would be a waste of public money, even though the Government offer is only that of for £I subsidy up to .£250. To those who consider what the establishing of a regular and remunerative trade in flax would mean to this Colony, the offer of the Government cannot be regarded as other than reasonable, and based on business principles. If the flaxmillers and business men who are likely to benefit from the successful carrying on of the industry are not prepared to give ovidenco of their belief in its future, it is not for the Government to take the whole responsibility on their shoulders. On the other hand, if the interested parties will but exert themselves they are not only sure of present assistance by way of subsidy from the Government, but of future help in the development of the industry. Once lot it be fairly ascertained that there is a market for the product of the mills of the Colony, and the producers need have no fear as to what the attitude of the Government will be. The first question to be answered is: Is there such a market ? And it would appear that the only way in which this question can be at all satisfactorily answered is to send an expert agent to the parts of the world where it is said a lucrative trade can be opened up. In providing one-half of the necessary expenditure in this direction, we say the Government have given all the encouragement to the movement that can be expected of them. To do more would but encourage a feeling in the minds of the people of the Colony that our administrators were going outsido the bounds set by prudence. No one needs to t

be told bow greatly the whole Colony would benefit by the opening up of markets to which New Zealand fiax could be profitably exported. It is not too much to say that the industry would prove of greater benefit even than our goldmines. The raw material is practically inexhaustible; the facilities for transit and shipment are eminently favourable: tho capital necessary for the production of a marketable article is and always has been available. All that is needed is the information which an expert alone can furnish, after a visit to oett&in points where, it is alleged, a trade could bo successfully established. And this, be it remarked. Is altogether apart 1 from the possibilities that from time to time have presented themselves owing to discoveries which are said to -have been made by chemists, who are prepared to so treat our flax that it may bo used for tho highest grade manufactures. For some reason or other we have not been able to gather from the outside what is really the full extent of tho possible trade with the presently available article of export. An intermittent trade is even now being carried on; but in such manner as to dishearten those who have invested a great deal of capital in the undertaking, Practically, tho industry Is at a standstill, and that standstill has proved disastrous to many of o\\r colonists; it has closed an avenue of trade Which might, under favourable conditions, provide work for thousands of men and boys, and bring into tho Colony hundreds of thousands of pounds annually. Tho stake is a good one to play for, and wo shall bo sadly disappointed if the offer of the Government is not speedily taken advantage of by those who have so much to gain by tho despatch to tho outside world of a capable and reliable agent.

POULTRY FARMING. ! There seems every reason tor believing that owing to tho well-directed efforts ,of i the Agricultural Department a trade In the export front this Colony ct e'ggs and poultry will bo built Up in the near future. Tho first practical step was taken whon Mr J. A. Henderson’s poultry pamphlet Was issued from tho Government Printing Office. That pamphlet has proved a very popular publication, and still continues in great demand. Mr Henderson has added to his good work by solving the problem of shipping oggs to London without tho aid of cool chambers, and in other ways has demonstrated that there exists on the other side of the world a market for all the poultry and eggs which can be raised by those of our farmers who will raise the; article required in the English market. At i the Exhibition, Mr Henderson has gi'vtitt a i further practical lesson in the Work, of poultry raising by artificial tUsans. The , brooders, or artificial mothers, it may be noted, wore made by the Mount View Asylum tradesmen from designs fUrUistl’id by Mr Henderson. The phenomenal success attending the season’s work (the first) at the Asylum suggested to him tho idea of showing the whole system from the new laid egg to the six or seven weeks’ old chick! so that any settler interested in poultry visiting the Exhibition might be able to take home a few advanced ideas. This Mr Henderson has been enabled to do, with the assistance of the Asylum authorities and tho Agricultural Department. It is extremely gratifying to find that a groat deal of interest has been taken in this instructive exhibit, Offers are made daily for the Whole plant, chicks : and all, and groat disappointment i? shown 1 when it is found that there is nothing for sale, not even a chick, This seems to indicate that a friendly push given to the important industry of poultry-rearing would not be out of place. Indeed, wo are informed that the Agricultural Department, with commendable foresight, is already moving in this direction, and that something tangible may soon bo expected. Mr Henderson tells us that many practical men, on noting the remarkably rigCf otts and healthy appearance of the Chicks, refuse to believe that they arc the result Of artificial hatching and rearing, and hint 'thi't they are " put in fresh every daw.” 'this, of course, is Hot the Cage* hot a single chick having been brdUght in after the opening day. Others say the birds will all die when turned out, that having been their own experience with brooder-reared chickens. As a matter of fact the percentage of loss on rearing during a season of five months has been little, if any, over 5 pot coat., and the bulk were turned out of the brooders at about seven Weeks old. We trust that the sources of out information will prove reliable, and that the Agricultural Department Will press forward with the Work of encouraging poultry * rearing throughout tho Colony.' No better lhan, wo venture to think, could be JoUnd for tho work of lecturing and generally instructing pur settlers than Mr Henderson himself. Of course, if the wort: is entered Upon, the department must be prepared to . assist poultry farmers with purebred stock, and here again Mr Henderson’s knowledge and attainments would ptof e invaluable.