THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2812, 5 February 1908, Page 30

THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

" I wculd be a very bold man," said Mr Johnstone, when asked as to the future probab;iities of the hemp market, if 1 attempted to give any prophecy in regard to the probable course of the flax market. This commodity is probably the most fluctuating with which we have to do in IS ew Zealand, and it is particularly difficult to follow tho frequent ri&es and falls in prices. It seemo to me, however, that, apart from some unforeseen factor, there is no reason to suppose that we shall see a return of the high prices that have ruled during the last few years. The advance in hemp that led to the revival of the flax industry was the result of the disorganisation of the trade ir. Manila consequent on the SpanisnAmerican. war. Normal conditions now seem to have been restored in that country, and prices are therefore likely to remain somewhere about the level they occupied before the war. It would seem, too, that our flax will have to meet the competition of a fibre that is being produced in South Africa, and this is -another matter that is likely to prevent a repetition of the recent high prices. In my opinion, flax millers need not look for much profit from their industry until a lower range of values for the raw material is established.' POOR DISPLAY BY N.Z. AT DTJBLIN.

Air Johnstone had no opinion to express on the subject of the Franco-British Exhibition. " I have," he continued, " scarcely heard it spoken of, although it has certainly been mentioned in my hearing. In this connection, however, I might perhaps refer to the Irish International Exhibition held at Dublin during my stay in the Old Countiy. The exhibits by which Australia and New Zealand were represented at this show were paltry in the extreme ; in fact, I think our Dominion might as well not have been represented at all. Canada, on the other hand, had spent some £30,000 on ite display, which was undoubtedly the feature of the show, and attracted the attention of everyone who visited it. Looked at from the point of view of a country requiring to populate the land as all the British Colonies do, a more effective form of advertisement than the exhibit of Canada can scarcely be imagined. It illustrated most admirably not only the primitive conditions of life in the Dominion, but also the industrial development of the country and its progress in civilisation and art. Anyone judging of New Zealand from her representation at Dublin, on the other hand, would form an exceedingly poor opinion of our country, and I consider tho money expended on the court was absolutely thrown away."