THE GROWING OF FLAX.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5180, 19 September 1927, Page 1

THE GROWING OF FLAX.

AREA AVAILABLE ON PLAINS. MORE ASSISTANCE REQUIRED. In the course o his speech in the House on September 7, Mr T. WRhodes, member for Thames, said : “I do urge the Government to encourage the growing of flax, a.nd give more assistance than has been given in the past. I know that something has been done in this; connection on the Hauraki Plains,- where, I understand, certain people have been granted flax leases. I notice that eight such leases have been granted within the last year or so. Flax will do well there. The Government has an area of 30,000 acres idle on the Hauraki Plains-, and this land, is not at present suitable for dairying. Much of it is suitable for flax-growing at the present time, and other parts of the area can be made suitable- later on. I have had correspondence from people in all parts of the Dominion in regard to this industry. If people are prepared to take up flax-cultivation, then why not encourage them ? The expansion of the industry will give employment to many people, and will increase the exports.

“The chief grader has made a suggestion in regard to this industry which I would like the Minister to adopt. It is to put ’up an experimental plant to train men so that they will become more expert in connection with the industry. Let it be run as a business; concern. The Government grader stated that if we could only improve the Quality of the flax by one. point it would be worth £2 a ton more. Well, if that were done it would improve the profits of the industry .and enable it to pay wages without difficulty, increase the value of our exports, and improve the statusi of the article.

“Suggestions have been made from time to time that phormium tenax should be used for purposes other than cordage. It is acknowledged to be the finest fibre plant in the world and most productive. It is of such high quality that it ought to be used for textiles. A flaxmiller in my district, Mr Smerle, a very able man, and, 1 believe, the most scientific man we have in connection with the flax industry in New Zealand, is an expert in connection with the manufacture of phormium tenax into textiles. His daughter-in-law, also, is a textile expert, and holds very high credentials. They imported a loom, and I have seen bags and hessian which they manufactured from flax waste, proving that we ought to be able to manufacture these articles in this country to supply our own wants, instead of sending thousands of pounds out every year to supoly our needs. These people are not manufacturing for commercial purposes, but purely in an experimental way. Why does not the Government do these things, or subsidise those who help to improve the industry and make it more permanent ?

“In connection with extending the uses of flax, I was pleased to read that a syndicate in Dunedin is going in for the manufacture of bags and artificial silk. There isi no doubt that artificial silk can be produced from our flax. I remember reading many years ago about a quantity of flax being sent from New Zealand to Japan for experimental purposes to see what could be manufactured from it. The product was finally sent back, but the authorities queried whether it was silk or a product of the flax. It was eventually proved to be the product of the flax that had been sent away. If that is so, I feel sure there is a great field before this syndicate about to commence operations in Dunedin, and I wish them every success. They will do a great work if they can pioneer commercially the manufacture of phormium tenax into textiles. As a result of such an effort we may find that not only can We supply our own needs, but we may be able, if we succeed in manufacturing an article such as wasi manufactured in Japan, in working up a considerable export trade, and so give further employment. I do commend the suggestion to the Minister of Agriculture and to the Minister of Lands.

“I would like to make a further suggestion to the Minister of. Agriculture in regard to experimenting with a view to producing motor spirit. It is a by-product of flax and wood, and of any other commodity that can be made to ferment. There is a great field for investigation and research in that direction. There i? a considerable sum of money sent out of this' country every year for motor spirit, and if we can producei only a portion of what we require we will he doing a very great good. In each of the various localities they could produce a few thousand gallons periodically, and in the aggregate that would be quite appreciable. I think the department might very well ca;rry out experiments in the way of, distillation or give accredited persons the right to use a still for experimental purposes. It only requires a small amount of capital for the purpose, and it would demonstrate absolutely whether what I am suggesting is feasibl® or not. I have on many occasions advocated this, and I got the reply irom the department some years ago that seeing there were private concerns going into the matter the Agricultural Department was considering the matter in conjunction with them, and. was hopeful that before long the manufacture would be undertakenThat is a few years ago, but I have never heard of the .manufacture materialising yet. I. hope the matter will not be lost sight of, and that the Minister in his reply will explain what is the intention, of the department in the matter.”