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THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

A PRODUCER’S INVESTIGATION.

CLOTH FROM FLAX AND PAPER. FROM BY-PRODUCTS. Some interesting information on matters connected with the flax industry is contained in a letter received by Mr E. L. Broad, of Palmerston, from Mr J. Liggins, of Tokomaru, who is visiting Europe, combining a pleasure trip with observation aud enquiry, and published in our Palmerston North evening contemporary. In the course of his communication, Mr Liggins states that he spent two days in Munich and three in Berlin, and in both places he endeavoured to get in touch with merchants aud men of science, through the British Consuls there : “I was received very kindly indeed,” he continues, “ aud I feel it is not the fault of these gentlemen that I was immediately placed in contact with the men I required. I used the names given me by Consul Focke, of Wellington, and got iu touch with many merchants, scientific investigators, aud directors of museums, aud have devoted time and thought to fibre problems.” The problem that immediately confronted Mr Liggins was one that has faced the New Zealand flax industry all along, namely, how to supply green flax fibre, tow, aud waste to investigators, aud how to give an idea of what we want in machines, seeing that the fibres of Europe are of the same kind as Linum as regards structure of the plants, being obtained from the stalk and prepared by process of retting or soaking in water, the after process being mainly manual. Mr Liggins was not surprised at the delimma in which German enquirers were placed. They found it as difficult to get away from the retting idea as Dominion millers do to get rid of the barbarous method ot stripping. However, he supplied literature aud information to all within his reach, and the result will be awaited with interest.

Mr Liggins proceeded to London to endeavour to obtain green leaf, etc., for experiment. He found the High Commissioner’s office ana tried to advertise our requirements. Mr Cameron, the produce Commissioner, obtained a translation of Continental letters, and undertook to secure information as to the countries in Europe producing fibre, the quantity produced, value, botanical name of the plant, and methods of growth and manufacture. St. Helena was also to be written to asking if it would supply green leaf and an effort wa| made to put Mr Liggins in communication with all the leading persons interested in the industry. He had interviewed Loudon fiauanciers, who had already placed a good sum of money for improvements in the methods of manufacture. Their idea is to hasten the retting process by the aid of bacteria. Mr Liggius arranged with some friends of Levin and Co. to sell to enquirers two for experiments.

“ It appears,” says Mrl,igeins, •‘that German manufacturers have discovered means whereby jute can be prepared so as to enable manufacture! s to spin and weave jute with titty per cent of cotton or wool, and so to produce cloth. The gentleman, whose large works deal with this product, assured me that he considered phormiutn tenax a much more suitable fibre, and had great hopes of success after research had been made into the best method of preparing phormium for that purpose.” In Germauy several experts told Mr Biggins that the refuse from the flax plant should yield enough paper pulp alone to be immensely profitable. Germany is a large paper-producing state, but the future of the trade is in jeopardy on account of the country felling such large quantities of trees largely for paper making. The opinion is expressed that if we were successful iu producing and drying our refuse tor export, Germany would be a large and continuous customer, German scientists consider that oil dyes, and possibly threads lor finer weaving may be secreted ”iu the plant; but neither they nor any other chemists could very well do anything at present, as all these products or chemicals must be collected whilst the refuse is fresh and workable.

Mr I,iggius adds that he has received irom the English acting* Consul-General at Berlin the names of sixteen scientists in Germany with whom he may communicate. He promises that he will not relax his efforts on behalf of the New Zealand hemp industry, aud concludes with an assurance of his desire to further its interests generally.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MH19120820.2.12

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1085, 20 August 1912, Page 2

Word count
Tapeke kupu
723

THE HEMP INDUSTRY. Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1085, 20 August 1912, Page 2

THE HEMP INDUSTRY. Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1085, 20 August 1912, Page 2

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