The Flax Industry.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6658, 25 September 1889, Page 4

The Flax Industry.

-• ■ REPORT FROM THE AGENTGENERAL. [Peb Pesss Association.] WELLINGTON, Sept. 24. Government have received a report from the Agent-General on the flax industry. It came to hand too late for presentation to Parliament. The document contains some interesting and valuable information, and fully bears out the statements of the harm done to the export trade by the careless and hasty way in which fibre is prepared for the market. Sir Dillon Bell lays great stress on this point, and says as much as JB6 or £7 per ton iB knocked off the price by the bad condition in which flax comes to hand; and he has known instances where consignees have absolutely refused to take delivery. He considers the recent rise in values is due to speculation in the United States, consequent on the demand for binder twine. As showing what an important factor the American demand is, he points out that from 55,000 to 60,000 tons of twine will be required this year in that country alone. Sir Dillon Bell proceeds to say : Dealers know they will always get Manilla hemp up to expectations, and can depend on the quality ; and to put our produce on a good footing, shipments must be regular and of uniform quality. He comes to two conclusions — (1) TJiat high prices will depend entirely on the supplies of Manilla and sisal remaining low. (2) That jute may to a large extent take the place of flax, and experiments are now being made in America with machinery to turn it to account for binder twine. In the face of these two contingencies, unless the method of preparing New Zealand flax is brought to a high Btandard, prices will fall to nothing except for the very best qualities.