NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 285, 31 August 1942, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS

One of the industries established in the Dominion to assist in meeting . urgent requirements of lite Mother Country lias been,,the growing of linen flax. There are now 17 factories in the South Island and' over, 1200 tons of fibre and tow have been shipped,’ The director of these activities f Or it j s wholly n State enterprise—-in a review of developments, mentioned tho provision being made by a firm in Dunedin to crush the seed for the production of oil, instead presumably of shipping it to Australia, and the utilization of low-grade fibre for making twine, and of the crushed seed bolls to produce fodder for .stock. Efforts are being made to find uses for the Takings, either in the manufacture of paper or for fibrous-plaster work, but the main objective is the production of t)ie raw material for the coverings of aircraft wings and fuselages. The urgency of tho, need overrides economic considerations, and any losses must: be regarded ns part of the cost of the Dominion's war effort When accounts are presented tho financial side can lie studied and tho prospects of the linen flax industry being established 'on an economic basis discussed.

Tubercular diseases are still the, chief cause of mortality among the .Maori people, but the dentli-rnte has fallen during the past few years. If would lie pleasing to think that this improvement is one result of the policy put into effect under the direction of Sir Apirana Ngata to promote land settlement schemes,. and the later provisions made to raise the housing standards. The settlements had the effect of placing many young Maori people on the laud under conditions that stimulated individual effort and vet provided a degree of communal interest to which they are accustomed. The latest report on Native land development and housing states that "the satisfactory progress maintained during the past decade . , . is due in .-I very large measure to the sustained energies of the Maori people, the majority of whom are now.achieving a successful standard of efficiency in farming'” Lust year tho settlements, under the Board of Native Affairs, produced dairy produce to tho value of JEMO,OOO, and the wool realized £76 000, so that they made a useful contribution to national production. The number of houses erected or repaired now totals 2258, including 115 provided last year. Better living conditions have enabled many Maoris to become better producers, and if they have reasonable incentives the younger people should be able to'carry,.tho work.much further.