THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1479, 30 November 1915, Page 2

THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

FLAX GRUB PEST. DEPUTATION TO MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE. On Wednesday afternoon last* Mr W. H. Field, M.P-, introduced to the Minister of Agriculture a deputation of fiaxmillers representing the N.Z. Fiaxmillers’ Association, with the object of arriving, if possible, at some method of combating the flax grub pest, which seriously threatens the hemp industry, and which has assumed serious proportions during the past year or two. Mr F. S. Pope, secretary for Agriculture, and Mr W. H. Ferris, Chief Fibre Expert, were also present. Mr Field reminded the Minister that he had drawn attention to this matter iu the House last session, and bad since received a letter from the Minister suggesting that an expert should be appointed to make a thorough investigation and recommend a remedy, and inviting the Association to make suggestions on the matter. Mr Field mentioned that Mr Cockayne, Government Biologist, had recently done a large amount of useful research work affecting the flax moth, and had reported in favour of the employment of an expert to more fully investigate. The destructive grub of this moth, Mr Field said, had been present in our flax swamps tor many years, and it sometimes was worse than at others. Recently, however, it had become more serious than ever, as the result, probably, of the gradual drying ot the swamps and the destruction of the weka, pukeko and other native grub devouring birds. One effective remedy would be to periodically flood the swamps, but this would be in some cases difficult and expensive, and in others impossible. Some other remedy must therefore be sought. He noticed that recently Mr Goss, of Shannon, had invented a device by which a bright light could be generated to attract the moth, which would then by suction be drawn into a receptacle and so destroyed. This seemed very ingenious, and a demonstration of it was to be given at an early date. If it had proved a success there was no reason why it should not also be used for the destruction of the codlin moth in orchards. Mr Goss’s invention would certainly appear to merit a trial. If it proved a lailure the next best course would appear to be the appointment of such an expert as had been suggested, and he felt sure the millers would assist in the matter of the payment ot the gentleman’s salary. Mr Field strongly urged that the matter should not be long delayed, as the damage to the green leaf caused by the grub was already having a serious effect on the quality ot our hemp, and was deterring growers from planting and in some from saving flax already growing. In normal ( times nine-tenths of the hem£ ' exported from the Dominion was milled in the Manawatu, and therefore the deputation might be said to be representative of the whole industry.

Mr Higginson, a* chairman of the Association, said that he felt sure the millers would willingly pay the salary of the expert, in the same way as they nad met the Government in the past over proposals for the benefit of the industry. Messrs A. and L. Seifert supported Mr Higginson, and showed that owing to the destructiveness of the fiax grub not only was the quality of the hemp seriously affected, but it now took a considerably larger quantity of green leaf to produce a ton of hemp than was formerly the case. Mr Ferris also described how the quality of the hemp was deteriorating, and said that if the pest were not kept under, the industry must suffer very severely. In reply, the Minister expressed his pleasure at meeting the deputation, and his satisfaction at the readiness oli the millers to put their hands in their pockets to assist the Government in fighting the pest. He pointed out that the Government had already done a great deal to assist the industry, and was prepared to do still more, recognising the great importance of flaxmilling to the country, and the quantity of labour it employed. He promised to go fully into the matter without delay, and communicate to Mr Field the decision arrived at, which would no doubt be to appoint a highly-qualified man who would practically live in the swamps for a time and make a thorough study of the subject. He had not in his mind an available and suitable man in the Dominion, and therefore it would appear to be necessary to look abroad for one. In answer to a question by Mr Field, the Secretary of Agriculture. said that Mr Cockayne would be the very best man for the purpose, but that be could not be spared from the other important work he was doing for the Department. The deputation expressed, through Mr Field, their satisfaction at the Minister's reply.