THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2608, 19 July 1923, Page 3

THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

DISCUSSED IN THE HOUSE.

A [EMBERS TAKE UP CUDGELS FOR RESEARCH. Wellington, Last Night. Wjhile speaking in the House this afternoon, Mr Eield deplored the fact that the flax industry was on the decline. This, he said,.was due to yellow leaf disease. Good flax land would give twice the return good dairying laud would. It was our own exclusive industry and it was a great pity it had been allowed to languish. Other countries had seen the value of the industry and Paraguay contemplated planting a huge area. He was sorry the Governmeni lmd not seen its way / to give more encouragement to the experiments which were being made. Mr Parry: “Did they turn it down?” Mr Field: “They gave £2OO but £I,OOO was asked for and a result was that the experimenters were thinking of ceasing the experiments and allowing the industry to slide. Had it not been for Mr Alfred Seifert, who bad done mangifieent work the experiments would have censed before. Mr Holland endorsed what Mr Field had said. The experimenter had done wonderful work and it was a thousand pities the Government liau not given greater help. Mr Parry absolutely agreed with what Air Field bad said. He bad been in the district in 1014, when 1,000 men wore employed in the flax industry. T( seemed to him the policy of the Government of refusal Id help was suicidal. He hoped the matter would be reconsidered and the full subsidy of £I,OOO given. It was a great pity the industry was being allowed to die.