DEVELOPMENT OF HEMP.

Shannon News, 9 March 1928, Page 3

DEVELOPMENT OF HEMP.

DR. MARSDEN CONFERS WITH ASSOCIATION.

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH WORK DEMONSTRATED.

MAY REVOLUTIONISE INDUSTRY.

The Foxton Herald states:—Dr. Marsdon, secretary of the Scientific Industrial Research Board, Wellington, visited Foxton on Thursday for the purpose of addressing ftaxmillcrs on research work in connection with tho hemp industry. . - Dr. Marsden said that some fifteen months ago the Scientific Industrial Research Board had been formed in Wellington to go into the Dominion's industrial enterprises, and to ascertain what improvements could be effected to promote their development.- The hemp industry had immediately attracted the attention of the Board, "mid. it had sent Mr. Aitken, a young chemist of considerable 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 lost twenty years this question had occupied the attention of various people interested in tins important industry from time to time, but no one had really discovered any practicable process. Consequently the Board had riven 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 plasler-boaid manufacture, 1.0 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 paddocking. 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. Manv years ago a man named Stanley, had 'conceived the idea of steaming Jie 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 au economical price. The Board fully realised, 1 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 thai fibre was suitable for plaster-board manufacture, while Sir Amos Nelson, of England, had found it suitable for the production of artificial silk. In expei menting in this connection, Sir Amos had disolved the fibre and softened it texture, a sample of which Dr. Marsden produced, which, in appearance, looked like high grade wool except that it had a beautiful lustre. Sir Amos, in writing about this materia, 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. Ait-ken's work al j Miranui, Dr. Marsden said that the Board was now of opinion that he had carried out the necessary preliminary 1 work and" they were now justified in i placing the research work on a commer e-al and business footing. The time had now arrived for the experiments to be carried out on "a quarter" scale, which was practically the last tc*t,'and to do tha- it was necessary that finaucc be a\ailable. In Ireland there was a Research Institute in connection with the linen industry, which had wonderCully developed the industry on the Sines of plant breeding. This point also had not been overlooked by the Board, and while Mr. Aitkon was busy with chemical research; Mr. Yates haii been engaged by the Board to' earnout experiments in plant breeding anc his work piomisos to bo wondei fully beneficial to millers. His ro.-enrch. i successful, will al:-o mean increased productivity. The Bcaid had been allocated 20 acres of land at the Ma--scy Collegc, Palme)ston North, for breeding work so that this branch of the work could be permanently carr.'ed on and a 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 .if research. If this research work was carried on the millers euiiU! confidently look to big demands for their flax. Matter of Secrecy. Dr. Mai.-den said (hen- was need for comparative seeicr-v in the wOik. Up .0 the /pie-cut ie-e;ii'-h had b-.cn cured oil intermit ten; 'v |i.- niucne an;! if the Government was to take the matter up solely any discuve'ie-; wou'd be published and everyone wen'd patl'c'pate in the rs u'ts, and shoe id the ex periments develop a:, anticipaied this might prove very detrimental to New Zealand. Other countries might be able to produce the hemp far cheaper than we could. He instanced the ex- ' port of wattle bark from South Africa. \ Some years ago, he said, South Africa ( picked out the best varieties of Australian wattle and to-day were export- ; ing more wattle bark for tanning pur- ' poses than Australia. If any successful I research work in connection with the t hemp industry were broadcasted from | Xew Zealand, the Argentines or Japan l might step in and lease New Zealand [in the lurch in the world markets. It i was the millers business to control the j research work, and it was up to them to provide the necessary finance to

carry out the quarter test from which the experiments become practicable. 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 Government would do its share by providing a £1 for £1 subsidy, whicn would be handed over to the Board. The millers could nominate members on the Board, but tho 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 business footing now.' If the millers took the Research work over then, of course, they controlled absolutely the results which would not be divulged. He was personally prepared'to stake reputation and the reputation "of the Board that the rescaich work would prove successful. He had tremendous faith in the whole business. Ireland, by research work, had doubled its output of linen.

Mr. A. Seifert said he was very favourable to Dr. Marsden's suggestions. Paddocking was a humbug. If the cost of production was cheapened more flax could be grown and there was little chance of overproduction. The Research Board was already looking ahead and 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 t create an over production, and in the meantime the millers would BenefitScientific research was absolutely necessary and the Research Board was out to help the industry, hence it was up to the millers to co-operate by con; tributing 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. 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 representative 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' increase in the grading fee being generally favoured.

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 Minister, who. would ultimately decide whether the proposal was in the best interests of the industry.

The following motion was 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 with the Scientific Industrial Research Board re setting up such Flax Research Beard, and amount to be levied; this committee to report at an early date to the Association's executive."