FLAX INDUSTRY’S PROBLEMS.

Shannon News, 22 May 1923, Page 2

FLAX INDUSTRY’S PROBLEMS.

MR MASSEY SYMPATHETIC. GOOD RESULTS FROM IMPORTANT DEI*UTATION. Last week an important deputation of llux-millers, merchants and members of local bodies secured a definite promise of assistance from the Prime Minister in tlie important experimental work on which the New Zealand FJaxmiller.s’ Association has been engaged for some time. Considerable public interest has been aroused of lat'e by the important results obtained in the experimental work at Miianui. The millers have been endeavouring to secure plants that will resist disease and at the same time yield a liiglier percentage and better quality of fibre, also plants that will mature early. Experiments wore also directed towards planting seed at various times of tlie year' t.O find out the best' season for planting. A great many experiments have ah been carried out to discover the effects of different methods of cutting the leaf. The old method involved a complete cut away from the root, but experiments had shown that' if only the matured leaves were cut and two or Urn e iel't on the plant the shock o' curling was avoaled and the yield was about two and a-lialf times greater than under tlie old method. Although cutting the matured leaf only was more expensive tlie owners were compensated by the extra yiyld and the greater disease, resisting capacity of the plant. When the experiments had reached an interesting and valuable stage, promising results of national importance, tlie millers found themselves up against the financial problem, and they determined to seelt Government assistance. The value of the reseayca was recognised also outside the industry. consequently the deputation which waited on the Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture to-day war large and representative one. The New Zealand Flaxmillers’ Association was represented by the president, Mr A. Seifert and Messrs. K. T. Bell, A. Boss and A. A. Brown. There were also present a number of leading- city merchants and representatives of the Palmerston North and Well- | ling ton Chambers of Commerce, Kai- | ranga and Horowlienua County' ) Councils, and Shannon and Foxton | Boroughs. | All- J. A. Nash, M.P., who introdue’ed tin- deputation, stated that the ! que.yriou was one of great importance to the Manawatu district, and, in fact to the whole of New Zealand. He pointed out that' those interested were prepared to help in the work and did not suggest tlial the whole of the lin- ! aneial burden should fall on the State. 1 The chief spokesman was Mr A. j Seifert, who said that it was essential that research work should be coni tinued in ‘order to see whether it was possible to produce a disease-resisting plant. Dining the last eighteen months the experiments had cost £615, out of winch sum the Government hud contributed £l5O. Last year the Government refused to give a penny towards the work on the ground Uiat strict economy was necessary. With all due respect, he asserted (hat. that consliuted false economy. They now asked the Govern-

■ tnent io give £IOOO a year for a num- . her of years. In order to find a portion of that money the ilaxmillers j were prepared to submit to a levy of (id pei- ton on all fibre sent into the grading stores, and they would ask the Government to impose that levy so that die contribution from the interested parties would be on a fair basis, 1 Tile levy, it was estimated, would produce between £SOO and £OOO per annum, and they would ask the Government to find the balance up to £IOOO. One member of the deputation discussed (lie question of turning the flax swamps into dairying land, andclaimed that such a plan would not prove profitable in the Manawatu where the swamps were subject to periodical floods, and were sometimes under wafer lor as long- as six weeks at a. time. The Prime Minister said he knew the value of the flax-milling industry to the Dominion. Whether it would continue to he of the same value he could not say. He might not agree with all that had been said about flax being more profitable than dairying. It depended, upon the quality of the soil, although the i ability to flooding would play an important part. -He was at one lime interested in flax land which was now given over to dairying with very good results. However, he was quite prepared to assist the flaxmfilers and more so because they had exl.il,bed a desiie to help themselves Ho could not say just what the Government would do, but it would certainly do something. He would have to consult his colleagues, particularly the Minister of Agriculture. He could not express an opinion as to what would do away with the yellowleaf. That was a matter for the flaxmillers themselves, and for their experts. He hoped that the experiments that had been put in train would be attended with every success.

The Minister of Agriculture stated that the olfieers of his Department had gone very fully into the matter, and when the question was before Cabinet, he would supply all the data that had been gathered. It was proposed that any fund established should be adminstered with the aid of two representatives of the Agricultural Department.