FLAX OR FOOD?

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1771, 3 January 1918, Page 3

FLAX OR FOOD?

SIMPLY A CANARD. A Times representative brought under the notice of the Prime Minister the following published'statement : “It is understood that the Government is likely-to virtually suspend (he New Zealand hemp industry, in order to divert labour from ilaxmilling to harvesting; further, that > order to'accomplish this, contra nay be taken of the flax industry > 'he Government in its own behalf, or. acting for the Imperial Government.” Mr Massey said that he knew nothing of any such proposal, and that!' 1 no such suggestion had been made to Cabinet by the National Efficiency Board.

It was reported from Wellington that the Government was likely to virtually suspend (he hemp imfi'dry in order to divert labour from unxmilling to harvesting, and that, in order to accomplish this, control may bo taken of, the flax industry by the Government in its own behalf or acting for the Imperial Government. 1 The proposed diversion of labour is supposed to have been suggested by the National Efficiency Board. A representative of a large 'Manawatu Haxinilling interests is reported to have stated that he recognised that harvesting was of the utmost importance at the moment, and ho asked what was the position of the hemp industry at the present time? Overseas shipping could uot take more than 1,000 tons per month. In consequence, there was a large accumulation of manufactured fibre. An outlet was afforded by America, and some hemp had been se'ff away. This had greatly relieved the position, and largely cleared up the accumulations, It was a question whether the Government could do better in getting the fibre away than had been done already, in view of the acute shortage of tonnage. The speaker said that American and Australian requirements in bindertwine made hemp an essential industry. He also questioned whether the men shut out of the flax industry would go to districts where services were required for harvesting.