Textile Flax.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 25 March 1915, Page 2

Textile Flax.

PiiOCESS ACQUIRED BY NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT.

Negotiations between 'the inventor ol (he process for Converting flax into i textile and the New Zealand 'Government have progressed to such a iangible stage that the secret is now shared by the Minister of Agriculture (Hon. W. F. Masse.y) who lias enterecl into an agreement on behalf t> t the New Zealand Government, to pay the inventor, Mr .S. Brown, of AiK-Kland, a substantial price for the right, and also to pay certain royalties ba-sed on a scale of production. Mr Walter 3. Fish, of Raetihi. who is a near relative of Mr Brown, has just returned to Raetihi, after interviewing the Premier at Wellington, and attending a practical demonstration of the process, as part of the negotiations leading to the transaction. That the demonstration was convincing may -be safely inferred from the speedy agreement arrived at. and the monetary consideration involved, tbo amount of which may not be advisable to state at present. Neither is it definitely known yet whether the Government intends to confine its enterprise to the State or allow flaxmil--1 <rs into the secret, carte blanche. Tn nny case a great fillip to flax production and the introduction of a new maunfactu'ring) industry are hound to result. Tt is even suggested in connection with the recent" rise in flax. that the market has already been affectcl.—Waimarino Call.