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Shannon News, 20 March 1923, Page 3

In the course of liis remarks at Miranui • on Thursday last, Mr R. T. Bell referred to the Maker ua swamp as being “nothing but a wilderness” 25 years ago, and traced the years of steady progress of flaxgrowing. . The yellow leaf disease had come along and in fact was still making inroads into the flax. In the flax plant nature had given them something that had proved valuable, not only to Mhe individual, but to the country, and there were still ways in 1 which steps could be taken to revive the industry. Mr’Bell drew an interesting parallel between recent developments in ■ the sugar industry in Australia and the possibilities ahead of flax. In connection with the former .he pointed out that previously the millers had grown their own cane, but now they had induced farmers to grow and supply - the cane to large central mills. He suggested that this system could be worked to the mutual benefit of farmers and the industry. Flax was an excellent shelter plant, and was the only plant tliat would provide good shelter and yield a profit. Farmers should therefore grow this plant for shelter, and thereby have the benefit of increased revenue. He referred to the good growth of flax, even on sand. Mr Bell also made mention of the only other place in the wond where New Zealand flax was grown commercially—St. Helena —and said] the first plants were put in mainly for shelter. Owing to New Zealand hemp being soft fibre, it could compete, to a large extent, with the fibres of other countries. Manila and sisal, for in. .stance, were both hard. Mr Bell al. luded to several advantages New Zealand fibre had over that of other countries, and stressed the necessity for keeping the industry going. He spoke rtv,noved condition of muling, and felt confident that everybody who had seen cue experiments going on would realise the possibilities of are industry. (Applause.)