THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3563, 16 November 1926, Page 2

THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

TWO PERTINENT QUESTIONS. At the conclusion of Mr A. Seifert’s lecture on tliq hemp industry, in the Masonic Hall on Friday night two pertinent questions were asked which will have a more or less vital bearing on the future of the industry. Mr W. E. Barber (chairman of the Manawatu County Council) asked whether poor quality land could be used in the cultivation of flax anil was it essential that first-class soil be required? Mrs D. R. Ogilvy (one of the ladies present) asked what effect the cultivation of flax in other countries would have on the local industry? ' All' Barber had in mind the turning to profitable use of the large area of sandy waste land on this coast by flax cultivation. He stated that flax had been profitably milled from sandy country in this district. Mr Seifert said that flax grown naturally on sandy soil had given a higher percentage of fibre than that grown on richer soil. In fact, flax had flourished naturally on hillsides as well as in the swampy areas, the only difference being in the length of the blade, which was shorter on sandy country. Replying to the other question, Air Seifert said that considerable quantities of flax seed had been sent, out of New Zealand. The flax grew well in Australia and California—in fact in any semi-tropical country. Except in one or two places outside New Zealand, and then on a very modest scale, was the flax milled. The plants were grown outside New Zealand principally for ornamental purposes. There was no doubt if the flax was cultivated extensively, where suitable, outside New Zealand, for commercial purposes, it would seriously affect the industry locally.