THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3762, 3 March 1928, Page 2

THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

Dr. Marsden, Secretary of the Scientific Industrial Research Board, Wellington, visited Foxton on Thursday for the purpose of addressing flaxmillers on research work in connection with the hemp industry. The attendance at the meeting which was held in the Racing Club office and presided over by Mr. H. A. Seifert (President of the Manawatu Flaxmillers’ Association), represented the producers of fifty per cent, of Dominion’s output of hemp. Dr. Marsden was introduced by Mr. A. Seifert. Dr. Marsden said that some fif-. teen months ago the 'Scientific Industrial Research Board had been formed in Wellington to go into the Dominion’s industrial ertterpifises, and to ascertain what improvements could he effected to promote their development. The hemp industry had immediately attracted the attention of the Board, and it had sent Mr. Aitken, a young chemist of considerable promise, to Miranui, to engage in research work. As was well known to those present, Mr. Aitken’s investigations lay in the direction of finding some chemical process for the bleaching of fibre. For the last twenty years this question had occupied the attention of various people interested in this important industry from time to time, but no one had really discovered any practicable process. Consequently the Board had given this matter its consideration shortly after its formation, and as a result of experimental research he was convinced something definite had been achieved. Experiments were also being carried out in the use of tow for plaster-board manufacture, to replace sisal and to produce the article at a much more reasonable price. In respect to the bleaching of fibre, the idea was to produce the finished article from the stripper without the necessity for padlocking. In this connection, however, an improved roller stripper could be used which removed more gum from the green blade before the fibre was chemically treated. Many years ago a man named Stanley, had conceived the idea of steaming the raw leaf, and this method was also investigated, but was not found to be feasible. Some method of treatment was required of the leaf however, before the chemicals were used, if greater output was to be shown at an economical price. The Board fully realised, that if the output of hemp from this country was to be greatly increased there would have to be greater outlets for it and had also made investigation in this direction and discovered that fibre was suitable for plaster-board manufacture, while Sir Amos Nelson, of England, had found it suitable for the production of artificial silk. In experimenting in this connection, Sir Amos had disolved the fibre and softened its texture, a. sample of which Dr. Marsden produced, which, in appearance looked dike high grade wool except that it had a beautiful lustre. Sir Amos, in writing about this material had said that his mills; if tests proved satisfactory, could use the whole of New Zealand’s output of hemp for the next five years.

PLANT BREEDING. Referring to Mr. Aitken’s work at Miranui, Dr. Marsden said that the Board was now of opinion that he had carried out the necessary preliminary work and they were now justified in placing the research work on a coumercial and business footing. The time had now arrived for the experiments to be carried out oil “a quarter” scale, which was practically the last test, and to do that it was necessary that finance be available, ffn Ireland there was a Research Institute in connection with the linen industry, which had wonderfully developed the industry on the lines of plant breeding. This point also had not been overlooked by the Board, and while Mr. Aitken was busy with chemical research, Mr. Yates had been engaged by the Board to carry out experiments in plant breeding and his work promises to be wonderfully beneficial to millers.His research, if successful, will also mean increased productivity. The Board had been allocated 20 acres of land at the Massey College, Palmerston North, for breeding work so that this branch of the work could lie permanently carried on and o, higher yield and disease resisting plants could be anticipated in the near future. This work was of the greatest importance, even if it did not yield results as quickly as the. other branch of research. If this research work was carried on the millers could confidently look to big demands for their flax.

MATTER OF SECRECY. Dr. Marsden said there was need for comparative secrecy in the work. Up to the present research had been carried on intermittently by anyone and if the Government was to take the matter up solely any discoveries would be published and everyone would participate in the results, and should the experiments develop as anticipated this might prove very detrimental to New Zealand. Other countries might be able to produce the hemp far cheaper than we could. He in-r stanced the export of wattle bark

Dr. MARSDEN CONFERS WITH ASSOCIATION. SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH WORK DEMONSTRATED. MAY REVOLUTIONISE INDUSTRY. ASSOCIATION TO RENDER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

from South Africa. Some years jago, he said, South Africa picked out the best varieties of Australian wattle and to-day were exporting more wattle bark for tanning purposes than Australia. If any sue- . cessful research work in connection with the hemp industry were broadcasted from New Zealand, the Argentines or Japan might step in and leave New Zealand in the lurch in the world markets. It was the milbusiness to control the research work, and it was up to them -- to provide the necessary finance to '4 carry out the quarter test from which the experiments become fractieable. If the millers were prepared to contribute towards this cost then the Research Board was prepared to give all the help it could by supplying physicists to test the fibre and .to assist in chemical -- ■ and breeding research. The millers would have to take an active interest in the business. If it was left entirely to the Government then they would not get the results. The Government had to cut its cloth according to measure, but if the millers co-operated, the Go- ( vernment would do its share by providing a £1 for £1 subsidy, which would be handed over to the Board. The millers could nominate members on the Board, but t the programme of work would have to be in accordance with what was laid down by the scientists on the Board. They should look ahead four or five years and not hesitate to place this scheme on a busine: footing now. If the miller* the Research work over then course, they controlled abso; the results which would not hvulged. He was personally pied to stake his reputation ; reputation of the Board it research work would jirove tul. He had tremendous jjjf, the whole business. Ireland,. Q search work, had doublet! / put of linen. • Mi-. A. Seifert said he M favourable to Dr. Mari q gestions. Paddocking j\ =*-•«* bug. If the cost of n:otK: '*** cheapened more fl *‘*4d B:- y) and there was little <-h. nee ’ production. The Reseui-' was already looking ahead a.: i finding fresh uses for hemp. The world produced 5,000,000 tons of cotton annually, while the U-.S.A. turned out 7,000,000 tons of paper annually. It would take a very long time to create an over production, and in the meantime the millers would A benefit. Scientific research was ab- > solutely necessary ( and the Researeh Board was out to help the industi-y, hence it was up to the millers to co-operate by contributing the funds necessary. It was only by the Board’s assistance that a Government subsidy would be obtainable. Mr. Seifert said he had done, a little flax-breeding, and as a result, had been able to produce 49 tons of flax to the acre at under three years. The Board had already done good work, and if made use of, the Dominion as a whole would benefit. The Chairman also spoke in favour of the proposal to assist the Board. s The Research work was split up into four sections, the first being laboratory work, the second tests in the field, the third quarter tests or commercial scale, and the last research into mechanical means of assistance. Within three months the Board’s represen- I tative had eliminated the first two and; was now ready to make quarter tests. Mr. A. A. Brown spoke in favour of the millers supporting the Research Board financially. A general discussion ensued as to a method of contribution, an in- 1 crease in the grading fee being generally favoured. Mr. H. Greig favoured the setting up of a sub-committee to consider the question. The Chairman spoke strongly in favour of the scheme, and considered the industry would be dead in another ten years unless something was done now. The was deserving of the Association’s thanks for going so far as it had before , asking for any financial assistance.

Dr. Marsden said all millers would be circularised before any legislation was made if it was decided to increase the grading' charge to provide the necessary revenue and any objections would be noted by the Prime Ministex-, who would ultimately decide whether the proposal was in the best interests of the industry. At the conclusion of his address Mr. Marsden was accorded a hearty vote of thanks by the meeting. Mr. P. Aitken, who is engaged on the chemical research work at Miranui, submitted two sets of hanks, three in each, showing the different shades of colour obtained by the various methods of bleaching. In each instance the ordinary paddocked and sun bleached hank was easily picked out on account of its brown colour.

Mr. Aitken said the flax was all taken from the same bundle, and stripped on the same day. Treatment had been reduced from one hour at first to ten minutes for the chemical bleaching, and be hoped to further reduce the time. The first hank submitted was bleached by means of permanganate of potash,

and took one hour, the cost per ton working out at.about 12/-; the colour Avas almost white. The second hank was gi\’en a weaker solution, and showed a slightly green tinge. The third sample was of ordinary paddocking and was brrnvn. In the second series the bleaching medium had been sodium hyperchloride (electric power and common salt) and the costs were 10/71 and 12/6 per ton respectively for an hour, and half an hour’s immersion. Mr. Aitken said the white colour was due to washing to a large extent, but the chemical process improved this immensely, and gave the fibre a sheen. He was now Avorking to reduce the time required in the baths to allow easier methods of handling bulk. There Avas absolutely no appreciable loss of strength in the fibre ,so treated. The hanks,, with the exception of the “paddocked” ones, Avere all dried inside. Mr. A. Seifert said New Zealand Avas losing its to'w trade as a result of the dye in it running. Mr. Aitken claimed to be able to treat tdw in a similar Avay and obtain a good colour and get rid of the “red,” He also submitted a hank of steam bleached fibre which Avas very dull. Mr. A. Seifert intimated that the cost of paddocking fibre Avas -about £3 per ton while Mr. A. Aitken’s method could be carried out at a cost, of about 27/6 per ton. This Avas based on the chemicals costing approximately 12/6 per ton, and the labour 15/-. The following motion Avas then put and carried: — “That this N.Z. Flaxmillers’ Association agrees to have the grade charges increased to provide funds for a Flax Research Association, and that a Committee be set up to confer Avith tha Scientific Industrial Research Board re setting‘up such Flax Research Board, and amount to be leA'ied; this committee to report at an early date to the Association’s executive.” The ‘ following committee was then elected:—Messrs A. and H. Seifert, Greig and J. Moir.