FLAX-GROWING AT AWAITI

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5407, 5 April 1929, Page 2

FLAX-GROWING AT AWAITI

LAST NIGHT’S LECTURE AND FILM ENTHUSIASTIC ATTENDANCE. Last evening at the Aurora Theatxe. Paeraa, a most, interesting address a,nd series of cinematograph pictuies was given .under the auspices of the Hauraki Flax Growers and Hemp Producers, Ltd., who have already flax under cultivation at. Awalti and intend undertaking the nxanufac.ture of tlie finished article of commerce as si on as possible. Mr W. Mai shall, Mayor of. Paeroa, took the chair, ami present on the platform were the boar.d of directors, consisting of Messrs. F. W. Lysnar (chairman), G. CHI"', J. Pekin, G. Ric.e, Gavin Stove, G. G. Cook, A. J. G. Schmidt, and P- Keegan (advance, agent). T,he theatre was packed with an audience that displayed the liveliest interest and enthusiasm, prolonged c.heers greeting many statements made by the speakers. The pictures were masterpieces, and reflect the greatest credit on t.he producers, while the spoken part of the performance wa.s of such excellence as not to let keenness and appreciation, flag for a moment.

The Mayor, in introducing Mr Lysnar, the chairman, and the other directors, stated that in Mr Lysnar they had a man of political reputation, ilc was glad there was suc.li a Ikrge gathering, to hear the various speakers, anil see the film, and assux-qdi the company directors that there was nomoto intellectual or fail- audience than the population of Paeroa. There was, the flax company in actual operation at Awaiti, a,nd what was npiw needed was increase,xl capital, sp that the immediate production of twine, etc., could be undertaken after 1 the installation of machinery. If 1 Paeroa needed anything to-day it. was the establishment of industry. With the establishment of industries in New Zealand thousands of men would be employed and the Dominion .would again become the prosperous country of years gone by. lix welcoming the directorate of the company -Mi’ Marshall said he was sure he; was backed by Paercla in wishing them a.ll success, realising what it meant to the district. Mr Lysnar stated that the Hauraki Flax Growers and Hemp Producers, Ltd., were anxious to bring; before the public a scheme that had been floated about two years ago, wheh the finances were not too prosperous in tbe Dominion. With the cash the company hail available they had started acquiring flax land and ha I now--3300 acres at Paeroa’s door, and the finest land for the purpose in the Dominioii, and which could not possibly be inorej suitable. It was large enough in area for all their requirements. Access was available both by load and water, and the country would not suffer’ from, diseases other ilax was .siigject to, as the Country could be flooded as occasion arose, a most necessary px’ocqdure at times. Must of the directors present, had wide experiexxee of flax, and had invested large sums of money in the present company. Supposing, anything (liil go wrong with the flax—a supposition that was practically out of. the question—the land would remain available as'a most valuable asset. He asked Paeroa to come forward in the matter of investment and give a hand, everyone to do a little bit and belp to what extent they could. It was a share, not a bond, issue, which meant that the company wduld be in the hands of the investors themselves, not in the hands of trustees. The shareholders would have; the power to elect of their choice. He asked Paeroa to subscribe freely, so as to get the contxol as much as possible in the district. The company did not wish to go abroad for the money, but if results were not forthcoming, in the Dominion they would be forced to with regret. There was money overseas waiting for a chance of investment in the company, and in other flax concerns. A company had been floated in London with £750,000’ capital whose scheme it wa.s to send out emigrants to rai.-.e the flax fox’ them. Mr Lysnar considered this a shame. “Let us do it,” he said, “and let our people do it.” All the company wanted watj the nejc.essary finance, and if the people came forward with that the company would accomplish what it had set out to do. There were 500 to 600 acres of flax already on the property waiting to be milled. Thq money would be put straight into buildings and machinery, so as to g,o right ahead, and a.t the, same time planting and the nursery would receive attention to maintain constant supplies for the future. He strongly advised fanners to set aside the damper portions of their la,nd for flax, so as to increase tlxe supply of green flax, and assured them that it would only be ; the mattex- of a short time when they would be receiving regular flax cheques in the same manner’ as they rceived xegular milk cheques and their incomes would be cohsideiably increased thereby. Mr Lysnar prophesied industry and happiness.

The pictures about to bq exhibited illustrated in the best manner possible the scheme from the cultivation of flax to the finished product, and would show to the audience visibly the valuable asset they had at thqir very doors. As for the company’s prospectus, npw issued, the public could res.t assured that the facts and figures were strictly true. It had been compiled by experts frpim aut.hqatie sources, and he was certain that after studying the prospectus f ? a few minutes the readers would realise what a good proposition they had before them.

In thanking the audience for their attention Mr Lysnar viisuajisqd the day when Paeroa would lie a thriving city

Mr G. Keegan, the advance agent of the company, told the audience that he was no newcomer’ to'the district ; he had been hqre 33 or 34 years ago, in the old boom days of the goldfields. since then he had been all over New Zealand and had not seen a

better place than for the company’s object. He now predicted another boom for Paeroa’ as great as the mining one. He was so assured of the company’s ultimate .success that be was heart and soul in support ef it, was investing money in it, and would push it all hq could. He reiterated Mr Lysnar’s advice to the farmers in regard to their taking up the growing of flax. All over the world where wheat, oats, barley, etc,, was grown, binder twine was needed. America alone could take qver» ball of bindef twine New Zealand could make. Mr Gavin Stove, in further supporting the previous speakers, said he believed Paeroa’s destiny was wrapped up in the natural resources, laid at her door. labour, location, and transport in hex 1 favour. In regard to public support for the flajc company, with the wiill to do it, it would be done, ' and bales of local hemp and twine would go the world over labelled “Made in Paeroa.” Upon the con-lusion of the speeches which had held the audir ence’s appreciative attention throughout, a most excellent series of moving pictures wa= portrayed on th.e screen. Fix st came fllmings of the; N.Z Cooperative Dairy Co.’s factories, illustrating; the manufacture of butter, cheese, and condensed milk from the arrival of the milk to the despatch of the manufactured article for export. Even the making and labelling of tins and boxes was shown, Mr Schmitt explaining; that thh company was the largest of its kind in the world, and was responsible for nearly a third of New Zealand’s total exports. Splendid pictures of Waifii and Pacroa evoked most favourable c'ominqjit. the panoramic views of Paeroa, taken from Prixnros.e Hill and elsewhere, being especially good. Following upoxx the above came thq flax film. Depicted with vivid reality, fx'om the selecting of seed to the finished article, the pictures. eanveye|tl to the audience the immense poSsL bilities that lay in the devqlopinent of the flax lands of Paeroa. Passing ovex- the screen, the audience was taken mile by mile over vast areas of some of the moist valuable; and fertile lands in the Dominion, all of which are within a few miles’ radius of the town of Paeroa. The old wasteful methods, of cutting, loading, and scutching, etc., were illustrated to forcibly point out how the modern methods and machinery to be employed by thq company would abreviate them. A section of the film that must have given cause for deep thought to all who saw it was a part depicting a smiling landscape of splendid country which 30 years ago had been a floating swamp, but which to-day is so firm that the main trunk railway line passes over part of it. No stronger argument could have been given to prove the valuable asset’ in reserve for those who grew flax on marshy ground.

The screening of the various proc.essqs whereby the cordage, etc., was manufactured completed the showing of a film which could not halve failed to impress even the confirmed pessimist of the undoubted soundness .of the proposition, and prompted one to full realisation of what the establishment of this industry will mean to Paeroa. That the proposal is worthy of all support it is superfluous to add —anyone capable of cleax - thihkiiig would comprehend this.

Throughout the flax picture Mr Ga.vin Stove aided the audience by a lucid and well-cQnstrued commentary of the various points. That the interests of the company’s, employees are to be well looked after was manifest by the plans for their housing, etc.