The Chronicle LEVIN. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY. 9. 1916. THE MENACE TO THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 9 February 1916, Page 2

The Chronicle LEVIN. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY. 9. 1916. THE MENACE TO THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

our ot ywbieiday, 60-1110 ltsleruucu uas matiu t( J tue plienomeimiiy good pauces for hemp UO w ueillg obtained on tiie Londou waiket, unci to the iact tOiat the mills throughout tills county arc to run throtiguout tiie winter. ilie winter season usually is a nonproductive one mtu -tiie iiaxmills j and l. foiliuws that an extra turn months' iB-oriiug-tiiuo will result iu a i»g increase of wage-earning, umh addod bene t0 tilc ' tradespeople. iiaving these facts iu regard, tiie neeU tor conserving the best interests ol the iktxniilhng industry uecunies more than and it is witu great satisfaction that wo ooseive a. determination in the Government to grapplo as effectively as it may with the menace 01 the gnih that has been working havoc, with growing flax diuring the last two years. It will be remomberedi by nil our readers tdiart a representative deputation made representations : „ on this subject (to the Minister of Agriculture) a month or two ago. Apropros of this, a letter from the Minister (to Mr W. H. Field, M.l\, who introduced, the deputation) has been handed to r lhe Ohronicle for publication, Tie letter runs:— Department of Agriculture, Industries audi Commerce. Wellington, sth Feb., 1916. To W. H. Field, Esq., M.P:„ Wellington. Sir,—With reference to the deputation which waited upon me on the 24th November last in regard to the damage canned by grubs to plioiiriium plants aaid the eonscqueut. deterioration ol the hemp produced, J have fche honour fco inform you that the Department has been fortunate in securing the services of a highly qualified entomologist who will devote his time more or less exclusively for a year or more as may be found necessary to a thorough study of the problem arising out of the ravages of tiie post referred to. The man referred to is Mr David Miller, end lie is taking np bis duties at once under the .M"in]o<riofi] Section of the Department. He will visit the principal phormium held as early as possible, and pursue his investigations forthwith. The question of whether tJio hemp iniTlors or the owners oT phormium fields, or either of them, will be called upon to contribute towards the cost of the work -will be considered when the expense involved. I- definitely known. I trust that the I result of this arrangement will be the devising of practical measures for" the controi of tihe pest,—l am. etc., W. S. | Mao Donald, Minister of Agriculture. I