NEW ZEALAND FLAX.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5235, 6 February 1928, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND FLAX.

GREAT POSSIBILITIES. Dr. Marsden ,the director of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research; informed a reporter that the department had received advice; from England stating that experiments in that country had opened startling possibilities! for New Zealand flax. ‘

Dr. Marsden explained that some time ago Sir Amos Nelslon, a large spinner and manufacturer of Nelson, Lancashire, had visitejd Ne.w' Zealand, and become Interested in flax. He had waited upon 'Mr Marsden and Professor Easterfleld, and they had referred him to Mr Petrie, the Goyenment flax grader. Th© result had been that Si Amos Nelson had taken home with ihim the idea df, utilising it' in the manufacture of artificial silk. He had found, however, that half an inch was too small for spiniiiing purposes. Newis had now been received from Sir Amos Nelson, however, that chemists had been s,uccessr ful in producing from flax fibre two inches in length with, excellent lulstrq what he considered would make a valuable admixture for 'cotton and woollen goods. If able to spin this successfully Sir Amos Nelson stated that he would be ablet to absorb the whole of the output of New Zealand flax for the next five years. Experiments had not yet been) completed, but he did not see why they should not be successful.