FALSE PACKING OF FLAX

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14358, 30 October 1908, Page 5

FALSE PACKING OF FLAX

SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST EXPORTERS. LAXITY OF THE AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT. (Fr.ou Our. Own CorniEsroxnnxT.) WELLINGTON, October 29. This morning's New Zealand -Times I publishes the following in its cdii tovial columns:—"The Government would do well to provide the Department of Agriculture with a strong electric battery to galvanise it into , action. On July 13 last a conference was held between representatives of the department, the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, and 'tho Harbour Board, to facilitate the grading of tow for foreign export. announced shortly afterwards that arrangements had been comi pleted. Now a local firm has received a letter from London merchants staling that they are 'experiencing the greatest difficulty on account of tho inferiority ol ' quality of shipments of New Zealand tow.' It is not so much a question of the tow being inferior, but more a question of false packing, a large percentage of sawdust and other foreign material being included in the bales, and it is a downright disgrace that the. packers should resort to this, because it docs harm to the Dominion in general. It might have been thought that when this matter was Drought under the notice of the Agricultural Department it would have been quick to act, but apparently it is completely immersed in red tape. The reply received on the 27th inst. (to a letter sent on the 21st) from Mr John D. Ritchie, secretary of the department, was as follows:—'I have the honour to inform you that the regulations governing the grading of tow cannot be brought into force until the Ist January, 1909.' In the' meantime rogues will go on sending sawdust and other foreign material to England as tow, and the Dominion's interests will he allowed to take care of themselves. It seems time that there was a shaking amongst the dry bones of the Agricultural Department." Apropos, the special correspondent of the Post at Palmerston wires as follows : "A letter has been received \by Mr P. Hcnnessy, of Foxtou, from Landaucr and Co., London merchants, complaining of the inferiority, of New Zealand tow. They say it is not a question of quality of the tow itself, but of false packing, a largo percentage of sawdust and other foreign matter being included. The firm characterises tho action of packers as a downright disgrace, and say they are bringing the matter before tho Government. They decidedly object to pay £3 10s a ton freight on worthless material."'