THE FLAX INDUSTRY

Hokitika Guardian, 20 August 1929, Page 8

THE FLAX INDUSTRY

ASSOCIATION OF MILLERS,

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

PALMERSTON N., Aug. 16

The annual meeting of the New Zealand Flaxinillers’ Association, at Foxton, yesterday, was presided over by Air C. Spiers.

“Prices for the past year have not been satisfactory, and showed a decline on the previous year,” stated the president in his annual report. “Since January Ist. 1929, the premium on the employees’ accident insurance has been raised by the insurance companies from 45s to 60s, per £IOO of wages paid, which means that millers now have to pay £9 per year insurance for an employee receiving £3OO per year in wages.

“Whilst we have no complaints to make in regard to Power Board charges in the Horowhenua district,. I regret that the same cannot be said in regard to Wairarapa, Wairoa, Tauranga, and some of the Northern districts. In these districts it costs the miller up to as much as £1 per ton more for electric power than in the Horowhenua district. This is proving a heavy burden to the millers, and in some cases they are quite unable to meet the position. Representations on this matter have been made to various Ministers, and to Mr Kisell, with a view to bringing about some uniformity of charges and voltage, but, so far, without result. “The association is constantly receiving requests from overseas planters, for their sons and managers to be instructed in the cultivation and manufacture of New Zealand flax, and hemp, respectively. Thousands of pounds and years of labour have been expended by miilers on this research work in New Zealand. Already our flax is being cultivated and manufactured by cheap labour in foreign countries, which are competing with us in the markets of the world. Are we,, and. is our New Zealand Government ' going -to continue to allow the export of our selected seeds and our selected flax roots from New Zealand and thus give away to our competitors the results of our researches? During the past year the association has made important recommendations to Ministers of the Crown with a view to safeguarding our industry, and we can only hope that our representations have not fallen on deaf ears.”

RESEARCH COMMITTEE. A report on the first year’s working of the Flax Research Committee was made to the meeting. The committee, it was stated, was formed a year ago for the purpose of carrying out scientific research on, behalf of. the flax industry. Finance was ever a matter of grave importance. The only reliable source of revenue for the committee had been the levy upon hemp of 2d' per 'bale graded. Hemp gradings this year would probably not exceed 10,000 tons of hemp, and the levy on this would bring in only about £450. This, with the Department’s subsidy, would give the committee only £9OO to carry on. 'This was really, not enough and- it would be very, difficult to carry out propoasls that were necessary. “The work of the committee,” the report states, “comprises three main divisions. They are: — Botanical: Concerning the flax plant, its varieties, its growth and response to various treatments. Chemical and engineering: Concerning experimental work upon methods of production and utilisation and here used to denote work carried out within the Dominion. Overseas inquiry: The Research Department is in touch .with various institutions, chiefly in Britain, but .also in other countries of the world. We are making constant inquiries from these people concerning chiefly questions of other uses for phormium products, but also regarding methods of production, and, possibly, we may even gain ideas that may be advantageous in the growing of flax.

“The botanical work has been in the capable hands of Dr Yeates, of Massey College who is a most enthusiastic worker upon flax problems. The committee lias an arrangement with Massey College whereby we pay the college for Dr Yeates’s time devoted to flax,- but the college makes no charge for land or buildings used. The expenses incurred are charged to the Flax Research Committee, and then the college pays one-quarter of them and the committee three-quarters.

SURVEY OF AREA. ' “Another’ very important work carried out by the committee was the survey of the flax planted areas of the Dominion. It was carried out by a special committee consisting of Messrs a. 11. Cockayne and Alfred Seifert. These two gentlemen visited almost every planted area of flax in/the country and drafted a, report. At present the report is of a strictly confidential nature, but it is our intention to issue a public report.

“Chemical and engineering work carried out in the Dominion lias to date consisted chiefly of testing various systems of artificial bleaching. None has yet proved quite successful. It would nmV appear that a much better washing would he of considerable advantage to enable cheap and artificial bleaching. Owing to lack of funds it is almost impossible for the committee to carry out any working with experi-. mental machinery; such work is, as a rule, very costly. Much good might result in this way of we could get the Government to reinstate the pre-war bonus for improvement to flaxmilling

processes, say, a sum of about £20,000. This would be a very real encouragement to those' with the inventive faculty.”

WOR.K ABROAD. “Inquiry and co-operation with overseas institutions , has opened up some very interesting connections. Paperm along tests have been or are being carried out in Britain, Germany and u.S.A. Tests liavd been made in Great Britain by several firms to see the possibilities of our fibre for textile purposes, also for several other purposes. We have also been in touch with some of the great engineering firms who are makers of fibrous machines. It may yet be possible to adapt one of the latest types of sisal deeorticators to replace our present stripper, for undoubtedly our stripping process is a very crude one and is the cause of much complaint. The machine greatly damages the strength, causes the towyness which is so undesirable, and leaves runners and unstripped edges. Other jnquiries have been made as to improvements most needed to popularise our hemp. ‘ “We have now established a Research Institution. Whether it will be of any real value depends upon the direction given to the research work by the phormium. research committee, and also upon . the. funds available. The committee actually came into being about September 4th. 1928, and has as yet- merely laid the foundations for future working; The. industry is in great need of improved methods. This is of ar more importance than lowering costs.

“New Zealand hemp to-day is worth in London £7 and £8 per ton less than s-isal because, of its lack of quality. We are getting low prices for two reasons; first ,for lack of quality and, secondly, insufficient quantity. If wo improve our quality, the prices will look after themselves.” The following officers were elected: President, Mr H. A. Seifert; vice-pre-sident, Mr D. R. Ogilvy; treasurer, Mr A; Fraser; committee, Messrs O. H. Spiers; J. S, Moir, E. Sutton, H. Berry, G. Rough, W. F. Wilson, W. Ross, A. Seifert and A. A. Brown; auditor, Mr R. A. Fuller, (Palmerston North). • Messrs A. and H. A. Seifert and B. B. Wood were elected the association’s representatives;- on the Scientific Research Board.