IMPROVED PRICES FOR FLAX

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3900, 29 January 1929, Page 2

IMPROVED PRICES FOR FLAX

BENEFITS OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.

ADVANCES, IN PRODUCTION. Tliere is evidence that New Zealand flax production has been in the past 18 months, and is at the present time, on the up grade as regards quantity, quality, length and strength, and in consequence the fibre is commanding about 10 per cent., better price on the 'London market. This is said to be due to the advances' made in culture and milling by the growers, backed up by the Department of (Scientific and Industrial Research (says the Dominion), Yesterday there arrived by the Tahiti at Wellington Mr. C. L. Wilson, managing director of Australia and New Zealand Investments, Ltd., which is considerably interested in the flax industry here. He is on his way to London on business for the company and matters connected with* the New Zealand flax industry. The company has a large acreage under cultivation in North Auckland, which work was only commenced in May of last year, and was very favourably reported upon only a month ago by Mr. H. T. Greedy, late Government hehvp grader, and the foremost flax expert in New Zealand. He is at the*present time in charge of Mi*. Frank .Walls’ flax plantation at Martinborough, where he has special ,experimental beds and has done valuable work for the industry in the selection of plants which wall enable Ne;w Zealand to compete favourably with other flax-growing countries in regard to size of leaf, colour, length and strength of fibre, in respect of which, until recently, New Zealand had been labouring under disadvantages. In the last 18 months, said Mr. Wilson, the type of flax grown in New r Zealand has improved out of all knowledge. Splendid -work had been done by Mr. Greedy, apart from what had been done on their own plantations, and the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research had given ,every possible assistance in the way of improved production, methods of milling, bleaching, etc. Such progress had been made that New Zealand flax was now realising £35 ia ton and upwards, against £3O to £32 a year ago. The company now, had a nursery of 12,000 acres near Hamilton, where 10,000,000 seedlings of selected .varieties were being raised. Flax-growing was also making excellent progress in the Mungaroa Valley, Upper Hutt, where about '750 acres were under cultivation.

Mr. Wilson hopes to be able to introduce a considerable amount of British capital into the industry, and if successful, there is little doubt that the industry will take a great step forward in the important industries of the Dominion. The Public Trustee of Sydney represents the Australian and New Zealand bond-holders, and it was to him that Mr. Greedy .made the report. Some idea of the advances made may be gained from the fact that at present a ton of fibre can he obtained from five tons of leaf, against 8 to 8£ tons a year or two ago.

Some time ago the Government Publicity Office made a film showing how the Maoris, in the early days, when clothing ran short, realised the value of the flax. . Maori women are filmed at work, cutting flax with a sharp shell, weaving baskets and carpets, and also making the feathered cloaks .which take months of patient labour to make. It is quite an interesting film, copies of which have been sent to Australia, Toronto, and the High Commissioner in Loudon. Mr. Wilson intends to take a copy of the film with him.