444 [Assembly 



Mr. Alcockj M. P., stated that coals could be brought from 

 Yorkshire at 7s. 6d. per ton, but they were a compact heavy 

 article of transit, while flax would be bulky and light. 



Mr. M'Dermott observed that the bulk of the flax might be 

 reduced by partial removal of the straw by a machine that would 

 not cost more than XlO, and also by hydraulic pressure, as in 

 the case of hay for exportation, and that probably the railways 

 might eventually contract at lower rates for the conveyance of 

 this new branch of trafiic. 



Mr. Majendie thought if the machine was portable, it might be 

 let out from farm to farm. If the new process did not produce 

 any injurious effect on flax that rendered it unfit in any degree 

 for subsequent use in all the ordinary stages of manufacture, it 

 would prove of great benefit to the country. 



Mr. Christopher, M. P., and Colonel Challoner, thought it de- 

 sirable that the cost of machinery required by farmers for com- 

 mencing this branch of cultivation, so new to many of them, 

 should be accurately ascertained. 



Mr. Miles, M. P., had been just endeavoring to obtain that 

 information from one of M. Claussen's friends near him, and it 

 appeare<l that one machine only was essential, but that two 

 might, for farther preparation of the flax, be employed, if the 

 farmer thought proper; the first machine would cost J£ 10, and 

 .one object of it was partially to separate the fibre, leaving the 

 slioves or gross remaining matter, amounting to two-thirds of 

 the original flax, behind, to be returned by the farmer to the 

 land ; the second machine would cost £bO, and was adapted for 

 clearing the fibres effectually from the refuse after the first che- 

 mical process. 



The Hon. Dudley Pelham, M. P., conceived it important to 

 inquire into the effect tliat the introduction of this new system 

 would have on the relative employment of laborers in flax cul- 

 ture and its operations. 



Mr. Kennedy inquired the price of new " British cotton*' com- 

 pared witli that of ordinary foreign cotton, and was informed 



