The Flax Industry.

Manawatu Herald, 31 March 1904, Page 3

The Flax Industry.

SUGGESTED REPRESENTATION AT ST. LOUIS. The proposal mooted by Mr John Holmes, of Wellington, that the flax industry of New Zealand should be represented at the St. Louis Exposition, and that the exhibit should take the form of a flax machine in full working order, is finding much favour amongst the flaxmillers of the Colony. Mr J. J. Blackburn, a wellknown flaxmillec of Hawke’s Bay, who passed through Wellington on Monday on his return home after a visit to the flaxmills in the Marlborough districts, expressed the opinion in conversation with a “ Times ” reporter, that no better means of booming this industry could be found than by the proposed representation at St. Louis where visitors from all parts of the world would be able to see to the best advantage the capacity of the colony in this direction. It is maintained, in view of the growth of the industry) that improved methods of manufacture are needed if we would keep pace with the developments in flax manufacture that are taking place in other parts of the world, and that wo might possibly learn much from what an expert would bo able to see at an exhibition which, it is reported, will be notable for its machinery display. “ We are getting good prices now for our fibre, remarked Air Blackburn, ■“ but with better and easier means of manufacture wo might bo able to do still better. I don't think we shall improve our fibre, because theqnali y does not grow in this country, but we can considerably improve our manufacturing methods. The Govhas done much to encourage and other industries of Now Zealand, and the grading of flax by Government graders has placed this industry on a firmer footing, yet much more might be done to give it encouragement.” Mr Blackburn mentioned that about a couple of months ago. representatives of an American syndicate visited various parts of the colony endeavouring to buy up large patches Of fi&X, for which they were offering good prices. ■ “ It would be a good thing,” he remarked, “if the Government would take steps to prevent the destruction of flax that is going on in the colony by farmers burning it off. During my fortnight’s visit to Marlborough I saw 800 acres of flax destroyed. Those 800 acres would have kept about twenty-five men employed for fully eight months. Since I have been engaged in this industry, extending now over a period of thirty years, I have seen from eight to ten thousand acres of flax burnt. This is wrong, and I think restrictions ought to be placed against that sort of thing.” The flax industry in the Marlborough district, Mr Blackburn reports, is in a satisfactory condition. That province, he says, is also well adapteffto the growing of linseed, both seed and fibre—much better, indeed, than Hawke’s Bay, where the land is dearer, and only the Heretaunga plains are properly fit for linseed.—N.Z. dimes.