FLAX GROWING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3691, 15 September 1927, Page 4

FLAX GROWING.

A REVIVING INDUSTRY.

SCIENCE TO THE RESCUE.

In the very early days of the settlement of New Zealand by white men the growing and marketing of flax was looked upon as the new country’s one great industry, especially around Wellington. But owing to a variety of causes, the flax industry never_prospered to the extent anticipated, and it now takes a minor place in the factors of the Dominion’s prosperity.

The potentialities of the flax industry have not been losts iglit of, however, by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, which is actively engaged in investigating the subject under , three main heads. The first of these concerns the selection of plants suitable for growing for commercial. purposes. The second deals with the treatment and dressing of the fibre, and includes problems of blending and mechanical drying. The third concerns the use of the fibre for various manufacturing purposes. Speaking recently on the future of the flax industry, Mr. W. Petrie, the Chief Government Grader, told the Flax Planters’ Federation that their opportunities were unlimited. “The general public do not understand that the danger of competition in flaxmilling does not exist,” he said. “The position is that, unlike competition as known in (say) boots, clothing, etc., where a flax area exists and someone decides to grow flax on adjoining property he actually confers a benefit on his neighbouring flax grower. Of course, there is a limit to the production of all things, but when one remembers the markets for our hemp, and its popularity, when properly milled and our present output of only 20,000..t0n5, it will be readily understood that our total production is only a flea-bite on the world’s markets for hard fibres, which is, including New Zealand hemp, approximately 400,000 tons. Then, again, our fibre may be manu- ' factured into soft materials for which some other fibres are not suitable. “I think it is the general opinion of manufacturers that our hemp, if properly dressed, will hold its own with any other fibre for binder '.twine manufacture, and also for general cordage, apart from the possibilities of converting it to other uses, such as small yarn, cigarette paper, and bank note paper. “The fact that planted cultivated New Zealand flax is likely to give a greater increased acre-ton-nage over natural flax is now leading to extensive planting being contemplated by certain growers, and a number of companies are either formed or are in the process of formation for the purpose of planting considerable areas of land which are eminently suitable for flax planting though not always suitable for other types of cropping or stockraising. “At the present time the industry supports one family to every 35 acres of milled flax. I would like to stress the great importance of producing as much binder quality as possible, and our good fair standard should be consistently aimed at.”