LINEN FLAX INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 99, 21 January 1943, Page 4

LINEN FLAX INDUSTRY

Development On Major Scale

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTOHUROH, January 19. Sales of 1917 tons of tow, valued at £267,200, had been made to the United Kingdom to the end _of Decomber, seed valued at £75,-70 bad been exported to the same date, and sales of by-products had brought in £45,000, said the Minister of Supply, Mr. Sullivan, in a-review this morning of progress in linen flax development. "The development of the linen tlax industry on a major scale represents an outstanding achievement and has provided a most valuable addition to the Dominion’s productive resources for war purposes,” said the Minister. "Apin', however, from the provision of fibre to the United Kingdom for the manufacture of aeroplane fabric, the establisnment of the industry lias served, to meet some very vital needs in other New Zealand industries. It may not generally be known, for example, that there vvoiud not. have been suflicent seaming twine lor sewing sacks if we had not grown linen flax here and what that would have meant to the farmer can well be imagined. ‘•The fibrous plaster industry had been able to secure an essential raw material, because the tow from the flax has been found suitable as reinforcing material in the manufacture of fibrous plaster. I lie chaff, ground to a fine meal, has provided a new fodder for stock. A facto for the production of linseed ->il and cattle-cake will begin operations witbin (he next few months in Dunedin and will provide essential products to our farming and manufacturing industries. Slate Invested £607,000.

“To establish the industry, the Government Ims invested some £667.000 iu land, plant and buildings. Sales of by-products for use as raw materials for other industries in the Dominion are growing apace. These inelude tow and the lower grades of fibre for seaming twine, chaff and tow for fibrous plasterers of an approximate value of £45,000. In this respect, a further recent development lias been the utilization of fluff front the factories for use in the filters of producer gas units and as a filler in the manufacture of soft toys. "Some indication of the scope of the work can be gained when it is realized that in just over two years we have erected 17 factories. The entire story is one of achievement and there is ground for satisfaction that New Zealand has been able so materially to assist the United Kingdom. As to the phase of our contribution to the battle of supplies, the production of linen tlax ranks high in relative value and the work undertaken merits the highest commendation for our farmers and all others concerned.”