Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 18 August 1927, Page 2

Tun side discussion which was provoked at the meeting of tho Westland County Council on Tuesday on tho subject of unemployment, brought up the matter of (lax planting on Crown lands as a reproductive means for recouping any outlay by the Government in regard to the employment of nien on relief works. The idea is an excellent one and the County Council might have gone further and passed the suggestion on to the Government. The very fact that men are being put off tree planting in this district supplies the opportunity of securing men with a knowledge of the work to load in regard to flax planting. Incidentally it appears strange that men are luring put off by the Forest Service hero yet being engaged in the North Isa ml. Certain strictures have been passed already on the Forestry Department as to the value of treeplanting oil the ]>resent lines, but it would appear the policy is to be pursued. However, with flax there is ample demonstration of what can be done, and the conditions in this district are certainly favourable so far as Crown lands are concerned. Near Woodstock tho Forest Service took an area from tile individual occupants when using it for dairying, which might be used for flax growing if the area is to he conserved specially for the Department. Also, there are the areas of former bush country cut ouf by the snwmilling party at Woodstock, which could be planted with llax. Ihe effort ill that locality would hie a simple and not costly experiment, and the result according to those familiar with the growing of flax on the Coast, * would be a decided success. It is said that in four years’ time the sale of the flax then available for cutting would recoup the outlay of planting, and further crops from the same plants would he reproduced as time went on. Tho economic use of employment where public, funds are concerned. should lie more closely studied than it is. Relief works arc often centred along non productive avenues, just to provide employment. Where the work can bo utilised for practical production there uTil he a distinct gain to the State, while at the same time the permanency of a profitable industry would be more assured. There is no reason in sight why tho growth of (lax in New Zealand should not be of value indefinitely and regarding what private enterprise is doing in the .matter, tho State might- well afford to take up the growing of llax also for profit.