PHORMIUM FIBRE

Hokitika Guardian, 6 December 1928, Page 2

PHORMIUM FIBRE

INDUSTRIAL USES LIMITED

WELLINGTON, Dec. 3

Investigations by the Imperial Institute into the marketing potentialities of New Zealand flax are reported to have revealed certain limitations and defects. This information will enable the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research to concentrate upon improving the local product, with a view to giving it a greater utility.

The chief defects which are said by British rope, twine, and net manufacturers to occur in New Zealand hemp are (a) irregularity in length, and the presence of tow; (b) insufficient cleaning, and the presence of coloured runners and straw fibre; (e) uneven strength; and (d) irregularity of 00l-

The defects, which naturally stand in the way of greater utilisation of the Now Zealand product, were brought to light by the investigations of the Imperial Institute. The objection by the British manufacturers to New Zealand phorniium tenax on the score or strength is reported to be borne by the experience l of the Plymouth Cordage Company (Mass.), who state that further uses could he found for the fibre if It were of greater strength. Moreover, tests carried out by the Department in New Zealand are reported to show that the difference in strength between flax stripped by ordinary machinery and hand stripped is some Go per cent.