THE RISE IN FLAX.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 4541, 17 May 1889, Page 4

THE RISE IN FLAX.

The '• corner " m sisal which has caused an enormous demand for New Zealand tlax m Amorica is referred to as follows by the St. Xouis Republic :— " A gigantic trust, which wi.l probably cost the people of America about 20,000,000 dollars this year has been forme i m the raw materials from which binders' twine, rope and cordage are manufactured. It is a combination of thirty-two Emtera manufacturer* of binders' twine for the purpose of cornering and controlling tho raw materials out of which twine, roping, and cordage are mnde. They have bought up all the sisal fibre m the world and all tho manila fl*ire obtainable, the two fibres being the raw material from which these articles are made, ilauila fibre is grown only m the Plnllipino Islands, and sisal fibre only m Yucatan and m one or two other portions of \f eiico. The trust has a capital of . f rom 15,0lX»,000dol to 20,000,000d01, and sffar has succeisfully carried out its aim Rop^s and cordage have advanced m the past three months about i:t per lb, and are steadily advancing. No man knows to what price the trust will raise them. During the year 1899 it has the power m its own hands, the c^i: : l iy will be rujueezed for several millions on rope and cordage. All that the country can do, for the present at least, is to dance to the music of the National Cordage Company nr go without rope, cordage, and twine."