THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

Shannon News, 31 August 1923, Page 3

THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

EXPERIMENTAL WORK NECESSARY. LACK OF GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE. Orginating from the damage caused by the prevalence of the yellow leaf disease in flax, the New Zealand Fiaxmillers’ Association a few years ago commenced investigations iu search of a pi ant of high quality, and one that will yield a higher percenage of fibre, and which would be immune from the scourge, but on account of lack of adequate financial -assistance from the Govexnmont, the efforts of the Association have been hampered to a large extent. The was placed vevy clearly before a meeting called by the Shannon Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday evening by Mr Alfred Seifert, who is closely associated with the industry and the experiments that are being carried out.

Mr Seifert was introduced by Mi W. H. Gunning, president of the Chamber, who outlined the efforts of those interested in the industry', and expressed the hope that as a result of careful consideration of the whole position an equitable arrangement could be made with the Government. Mr Seifert outlined his long and intimate association with the flax in - dustry, and went on to state that he had viewed the adverse side as well as the bright. It was universally recognised that no industry could be successful unless a plentiful supply of raw material was available. Certainly the flax industry had a numbe' of swamps, but through the agency of various causes these areas wen’ fast diminishing, while very little was being done to preserve and restore them, and if no transplantation work was carried out, the supply’ of raw material would fall below the required amount, and eventually became extinguished altogether. These facts emphasised the necessity for experimental work, and careful tests. Comparative figures between the New Zealand flax, and the Manila and Sisal products were quoted by the speaker, who explained that whereas it required 60 to 70 tons of Manila leaf to produce one ton of finished fibre, Sisal absorbed 30 tons of leaf to the ton and New Zealand 84 tons, and if the by-products (tow and stripper slips) were considered, only 64 tons would be required for a ton of the finished product. The enormity of this advantage could be imagined, New Zealand having the highest production of fibre per acre from her flax. COMPARED WITH DAIRYING.

The return from flax growing and milling compared very favourably with the return reecived from dairyfarming, continued the speaker. Taking an average figure for the ten years preceding the war, he stated that dairy land yielded 150 lbs. of butter-fat per acre annually, and this at 1/- per lb. would return £7 10/-. When provision had been made for the profit from calves and pigs (£1 10/- per acre) the gross yearlyprofit per acre would be £9. Flax growing, when treated by the old method of cutting, would yield 28 tons to the acre in every four years, or 7 tons annually. This at 30/- per ton, would return £lO 10/- per acre per annum, which was . a favourabh comparison. However, he pointed on that still better returns could be secured since the introduction of th.side leaf cutting method, the yield per acre per annum being 15 tons which at an increased price of 32/per ton would show a gross annual return of £24 per acre. Taking the comparison right to the stage of the finished product, Mr Seifert said when the raw material had been m-anu factured, the dairy product showed a return of £ll 5/- per acre, while the fibre derived from lhe annual yield of flax (2 tons from 15 tons of leaf) would, at 32/- per ton return £46, and after the addition of £lls/for 5 cwt of tow at 7/-, this would be'iucreased to £47 15/-.

WHY FARMERS WILL NOT ' GROW. “The reason why the farmers will not grow the flaiv” contended Mr Seifert, “is because they do not know enough about it.” The things they required to know were: (1) how long it takes to secure a matured crop; (2) what is the best kind of seed to plant; (3) how far apart the plants should be placed, and (4) how the crop should be cultivated. The New Zealand flaxmillers had engaged Mr G. Smerle, who had benefited by experience at a European University of Agriculture, to enquire into the following matters:— (1) Finding out the best time to plant the seed. (2) To study the different varieties (3) To see if the flax seed produces plants true to the parent plant. (4) To find out how long a planted flax crop, carefully cultivated, takes to mature. - (5) To improve the plant by selec tion and breeding. (6) To sell seed that will produce good flax, or supply plants. IMPORTANCE OF PLANT BREEDING. The importance of plant breeding could not be ignored, Mr Seifert continued, and he was pleased to see that this subject was at present receiving the attention of Mr Luther Burbank. “Plant breeding,” the speaker said, “is simply selecting the best plants by testing all those apparently suitable to discover the ones which will yield the largest percentage of good quality fibre. It is similar to selecting the first grade dairy cows in a herd.” There were three directions in ■which this experimental work, so urgently required, could be carried out: by private individuals, by cooperative effort, and by Government

asiastance. Touching the first method, the speaker said the average person would not carry out xtensivo work, requiring time, thought and expenditure, without a certain amount of compensation, and consequently the response from private individuals was small. Co-opera five effort had been tried, hut progress was out of the question on account of a lack of unity; so the Association had approached the. Government. A grant of £l5O was made two years ago, and on the absorption ol that, a second request was refused. Quite recently further request was made for £I,OOO, the millers rr.d those interested offering to pay Gd per ton on all hemp graded to help the raising of money. The reply of the Government was the offer of a £ for £ subsidy on money raised up to £290 and no agitation could move this decision. Pdorchants and private individuals had by donations been the means of enabling the carrying out of the exoevimonts to the present stage, and now if more assistance was not forthcoming the . 'forts would be wasted. In conclusion, Mr Seifert made a vigorous appeal for the preservation of the flax industry. “In dairying,” he said, “you have to work seven days in the week for your return and in th* flax industry you can secure a better return by working six days in the week.”

At the conclusion of the address the following resolution was was passed, on the motion of Mr Thwaites, seconded by Mr Murphy:—“That this representative nun ting of the residents of Shannon and surrounding district strongly urge (lie Government to grant a sufficient subsidy to carry out the experimental flax work that has been started in this district as wo are firmly convinced that the increased revenue resulting will more than recompen-io the Government for the outlay, and at the same time one of

our chief export's, at present threat-

ened with extinction, will ' be preserved.”