LINEN FLAX CORPORATION

Chronicle (Levin), 5 March 1946, Page 2

LINEN FLAX CORPORATION

-Press Associaiion

number op factories to ee reduced to seven.

By Telegraph-

CHRISTCHURCH, Marcli 4. The Government has now appointed the eight directors of the Linen Flax Corporation, which wili control the linen flax industry in Kew Zc-aland. These directors have already lield a preliminary meeting in Christcdiurch and their appointnients are expected to be gazetted shortly. The corporation wili take over control of the industry as from April 1, and the hoard of directors wili meet again in Christchurch on Apni 10, 11 and 12. The directors represent the Govcrn ment, the linen flax growers, the manufacturers of iiueu flax products and the employees of the factories in the South tsland. They are Mr. F. Johnson, of ihe Dopartment of Industries and Commerce, who is chainnan; Dr. A. R. F. Mac.kay, Pli.D., M.. Com., of the Treas urv Department, who is deputy chairtuan; Mr. R. W. L. Beattie, of Geraldine, and Mr. A. M. Hart, of Methven, Ihe growers' representatives; Mr. H. F. Sincock, of Dunedin, generaJ managei" of Donaghy's Rope and Twine Company Ltd., and Mr. T. C. Watson, manager in Wellington for Frauk and Bryce, Ltd., who represeut the manufacturers; Mr. H. A. Bisset, manager of the linen flax factory at Makikihi, and Mr. F. ,1. Burnell, of the Blenheim faclorv, who represent the emplovees. Messrs Beat-

tie and Hart were mernbers of the growers' central advisory coinmittee. Mr. Watson wili act on the board of directors as deputy for Mr. W. Aspinwall, of Sydney, general manager i'or Australia and Kew ZeaJand for Frank and Bryce, Lld. This firm is to niauufacture the. iiuer types of threads from the linen flax fibre, aiid Donagliv's Rope and Twine Company, Ltd., is to manut'aeture the coarser types. - - The present director of the linen flax settion of the Department of Industries and Commerce (Mr. J. W. lindfield) lias been appointed general manager of the corporation. Applications are now being cailed for the positions of secretary and accouatant to the corporation. Provision for the setting up of the corporation vvas made in the Linen Flax Corporation Bill, which was passed by Parliament last year. The corporation wili take over the assets and liabilities of the Linen Flax Advisory Coinmittee. Its capital wili be found by the Government and after the provision of reserves, the net profits wili be paid into Ihe Pubiic Account.

The number of factories is to be reduced to seven. Those that wili process linen flax under thc control of the corporation are at Blenheim, Fairlie, Methven, Washdyke, Geraldine, Winton and Makikihi. At present representatives of the corporation and the War Assets Realisation Board are niaking an inventory of the 14 factories now operating. Any buildings or equipment uot. required by the corporation wili be disposed of through the board. s