MORE FLAK FRAUDS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5603, 1 June 1905, Page 4

MORE FLAK FRAUDS.

The reference which wo made on th© 23rd inst. to tho fraudulent, practice of a London firm in supplying an inferior grade of Now Zealand flax to a manufacturer ns “ finest Wellington ” has had tho effect of eliciting further facts as to the prevalence of snob practices and their injurious effect on tho industry. A cordage manufacturer in the North Island last week received a letter from a Scottish firm complaining about being supplied with a very interior lot of “ phormium tenax ” by a London firm, and adding that after this experience they were not going, to buy any more “Now Zealand rubbish.” Tho manufacturer, on reading tho “ Times ” article, concluded that it referred to tho same transaction as was therein mentioned; hut inquiry showed that there were too separate transactions. There is thus positive confirmation of our statement that unscrupulous traders aro enriching themselves at tho expense of incalculable injury to tho New Zealand flax industry. The matter has been reported to tho Government, and tho Agent-Goneral will, of course, ho asked to make inquiries, and take such action as may ho necessary for tho protection of exporters and consumers alike. Such action, however, somewhat resembles “'locking tho stable door after tho steed has boon stolen,” and it is doubtful whether tho flax industry will over fully recover from tlio injury it has sustained; for tho Scottish'' manufacturer probably does not stand alono in his determination to abjure “ New Zealand rubbish ” altogether in future. Tho mischief that has been done would have been prevented if this country had been possessed of a fully organised and equipped Produce Department at Home, which should have kept consumers of our produce well advised of the proper steps to take in order to ho Certain of receiving fibre of guaranteed quality, as certified by the Government graders. Tho facts disclosed nevertheless call for vigorous action on tho part of Gi© Government iu tho direction of pro&ocuting , tho traders who may: have boon guilty of destroying tho graders’ marks and selling flax under a false description. Tho publicity given to such prosecutions would, perhaps, have some effect in restoring tho shattered'.confidence. of purchasers. What seems to ho most imperatively demanded is, however, tho appointment of more commercial agents in London, to watch over tho interests of producers, with respect to marketing their £oods, and to disseminate correct information among consumers not only of flax, but of other products of tho colony, so that the interests of all concerned may be protected. ' ,