GROWING OF FLAX

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 13, 30 January 1937, Page 19

GROWING OF FLAX

Development in Ausiralia FOLLOWING NEW ZEALAND Plans for the establishment of 'tho flax-growing industry in Australia on a large scale will be diseussed by the Minister for Development, Senator McLachlan, shortly after his return frQm New Zealand, where he has been at- • tending the Science Congress. Senator McLachlan arranged a number of conferences with New Zealand grower§ and merchants to discuss the prospeots of growing ftax in Australia. Efforts to * :introduee the industry up to date have mot been regarded as satisfactory. It ig understood that eommereial interests in Australia have intimated to the Commonwealth Government that they are willing — to co-operate in deiveloping the industry in Australia. The iraw materia! would be used to maka iwool packs and a wide variety of can[vas goods. The head of tha plant division of ithe Council for. Seientific and Indusdrial Research, Dr. B, T* Dickson, and 'the director o£ the Waimate Institute jof Agricnltural Researeh, Dr. A. E. V. jRichardson, have been sent to New ;Z.ealand to investigate flax growing, land to furnish a report on the prospects iOf production in Australia. Should the Government decide to develop — the project, it is expected that Victoria. and South Australia will be the chief States in which an attempt — will be made to expand the production of flax. T